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
[Verse 1 - NO DRUMS - JUST GUITAR] Some [G] body once [D] told me the [Am] world is gonna [C] roll me I [G] ain't the sharpest [D] tool in the [Am] shed [C] She was [G] looking kinda [D] dumb with her [Am] finger and her [C] Thumb in the [G] shape of an " [D] L" on her [Am] forehead [C]
[FULL BAND IN] Well the [G] years start coming and they [D] don't stop coming [Am] Fed to the rules and I [C] hit the ground running [G] Didn't make sense not to [D] live for fun Your [Am] brain gets smart but your [C] head gets dumb
[G] So much to do [D] so much to see So what's [Am] wrong with taking the [C] back streets You'll [G] never know if you don't [D] go You'll [Am] never shine if you don't [C] glow
[Chorus - C#dim slide C up one fret and don't fret the D string] [G] Hey now you're an [C] All Star get your [C#dim-x4x20x] game on, go [C] play [G] Hey now you're a [C] Rock Star get the [C#dim] show on get [C] paid And [G] all that [C] glitters is [C#dim] gold [C] Only shooting [G] stars [F] break the [C] mold
[Stop wit drum riff]
[Verse 2] It's a [G] cool place and they [D] say it gets colder You're [Am] bundled up now but wait ' [C] til you get older But the [G] meteor men beg to [D] differ Judging by the [Am] hole in the satellite [C] picture
The ice we [G] skate is getting pretty [D] thin The waters getting [Am] warm so you might as well [C] swim My world's on [G] fire how about [D] yours That's the way I [Am] like it and I never get [C] bored
[Chorus] [G] Hey now you're an [C] All Star get your [C#dim] game on, go [C] play [G] Hey now you're a [C] Rock Star get the [C#dim] show on get [C] paid [G] all that [C] glitters is [C#dim] gold [C] Only shooting [G] stars [F] break the [C] mold
[Instrumental - Whistle bit - NO BASS, VERY LIGHT DRUMS AND GUITAR] G C C#dim C x4 (Scratching - go for the moon)
[Chorus -FULL BAND] [G] Hey now you're an [C] All Star get your [C#dim] game on, go [C] play [G] Hey now you're a [C] Rock Star get the [C#dim] show on get [C] paid And a [G] ll that [C] glitters is [C#dim] gold (VOCALS UP) [C] Only shooting [G] stars [F] (COME BACK IN EARLIER)
[Verse 3 - Arpeggios] Some [G] body once [D] asked, could I [Am] spare some change for [C] gas I need to [G] get myself a [D] way from this [Am] place [C] I said [G] yep what a con [D] cept I could [Am] use a little fuel my [C] self And we could [G] all use a [D] little [Am] change [C][BUILD]
Well the [G] years start coming and they [D] don't stop coming [Am] Fed to the rules and I [C] hit the ground running [G] Didn't make sense not to [D] live for fun Your [Am] brain gets smart but your [C] head gets dumb
[G] So much to do [D] so much to see So what's [Am] wrong with taking the [C] back streets You'll [G] never know if you don't [D] go, go You'll [Am] never shine if you don't [C] glow
[Chorus] [G] Hey now you're an [C] All Star get your [C#dim] game on, go [C] play [G] Hey now you're a [C] Rock Star get the [C#dim] show on get [C] paid And [G] all that [C] glitters is [C#dim] gold (UP) [C] Only shooting [G] stars [F] break the [C] mold And [G] all that [C] glitters is [C#dim] gold (UP) [C] Only shooting [G] stars [F] break the [C] mold