The key to getting this song to sound just like the original is to play a standard G chord with fingers 1, 2 & 3 and then use finger 4 (index) to tap on and off fret 1 string 2 then again fret 2 string 3 (verses only, not the chorus). Listen to the song to get the feel for the strum and the tap on/off timing. It’ll come to you easily enough … enjoy!
[Verse 1]
G G I've been long, a long way from here G Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes, G C* And drank 'til I was thirsty again
G G We went searching through thrift store jungles G Found Geronimo's rifle, Marilyn's shampoo G C* And Benny Goodman's corset and fan
[Pre-Chorus]
D C D Well, o.k. I made this up… I promised you I'd never give up
[Chorus]
Am C G D If it makes you happy it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad Am C G If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?
[Verse 2]
You get down, real low down You listen to Coltrane, derail your own train Well who hasn't been there before?
I come round, around the hard way Bring you comics in bed; scrape the mold off the bread, And serve you French toast again
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, o.k. I still get stoned… I'm not the kind of girl you'd take home
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
G G We've been far, far away from here G Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes, G C* And everywhere in between
[Pre-Chorus]
D C D Well, o.k. we get along… so what if right now everything's wrong?
[Chorus & close]
C* - this particular C chord is played similarly to the preceding G chord with your pinky on the string 1; G note (fret 3). When changing from the preceding G chord merely drop fingers 2 and 3 one string down
[Intro - BPM - 120 - count 1234 as eighth notes - Just snare] [B]xxx - xxxx - xxxx - xxxx (snare pickup - then full drums - NOTE no G#m and F# before the E) I am the one and only [E]xxx - xxxx - [G#m]x[G#m]x - [F#][F#][F#] oh yeah [B]
(full drums in - Badd6 then to B - x24444) [B]xxx - xxxx - [F#]xxx - [G#m]xxx (same pattern as previous) [E][E]x[E] - [E]xxx - [G#m]x[G#m]x - [F#][F#][F#][B] (A is on snare) xx[A]x - xxxx - xxxx - xxxx Oh yeah!
[Verse 1 - B is passing chord - downstrokes chuggy - all changes on straight bass drum] [G#m]Call me, call me by [B]my Name [E] or call me by [B] my num [C#m] ber ... [B]Put me through it ..... [E] I'll still be doing it the [F#]way I do it [Bm]And yet you try to make [D]me [G]forget Who I real [D] ly [Em]am don't [D]tell me I'd know best [G] I'm not the [A] same as all the rest [B]
[Chorus - Do the Badd6 line] [B] I am the [F#]one and [G#m]only [E] .... No [G#m]body I'd [F#]rather [B]be [B] I am the [F#]one and [G#m]only [E] ....... You can't take [G#m]that a [F#]way from [B]me [A]
[Vamp - 1 bar][A]
[Verse 2] [G#m]I've been a player in [B] the crowd [E] scene A flicker on [B]the [C#m]big screen ... My [B]soul embraces [E]one more in a [F#]million faces Hi [Bm] igh hopes and aspi [D]rations, [G] ideas above my [D]station, may [Em] be but [D]all this time I tried [G] to walk with [A]dignity and [B]pride
[Chorus] [B] I am the [F#]one and [G#m]only [E] .... No [G#m]body I'd [F#]rather [B]be [B] I am the [F#]one and [G#m]only [E] ....... You can't take [G#m]that a [F#]way from [B]me [A]
[Bridge - Each chord is emphasised on snare] [A] I can't wear this uni [F#m] form - Without some compromises [G] Because you'll find out that we come [Em] In different shapes and sizes
[Short Verse 3] [Am]No one can be myself [C]like [F]I can For this job I'm [C]the [Dm]best man And [C] while this maybe true [F] you are the [G] one and only [A]you!
[NO VOCALS FOR THIS BIT - Words are there to help follow changes Key change down - Guitar solo, or Chorus in A] [A] I am the [E]one and [F#m]only [D] No [F#m]body I'd [E]rather [A]be [A] I am the [E]one and [F#m]only [D] You can't take [F#m]that a [E]way from......
[Chorus] [B] I am the [F#]one and [G#m]only [E] .... No [G#m]body I'd [F#]rather [B]be [B] I am the [F#]one and [G#m]only [E] ....... You can't take [G#m]that a [F#]way from [B]me