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 - No drums] [Em][Em][C][G] yeah [Em][Em][C][G]
[Verse] You are [Em] my [C] fire [G] The one [Em] desi [C] re [G] Believe [Em] when [C] I [G] say [Em] I want [Em] it [D] that [G] way (drums in) But we [Em] are [C] two [G] worlds a [Em] part Can't [C] reach [G] to your [Em] heart When [C] you [G] say That [Em] I want it [D] that [G] way
[Chorus] Tell me [C] why (Ain't nothin' but a [D] heart [Em] ache) Tell me [C] why (Ain't nothin' but a [D] mis [Em] take) (Tell me [C] why) I never wanna [D] hear you [G] say ( [Em] I want it [D] that [G] way)
[Verse] Am I [Em] your [C] fi [G] re Your one [Em] des [C] ire [G] Yes I [Em] know, it's [C] too [G] late But [Em] I want it [D] that [G] way
[Chorus] Tell me [C] why (Ain't nothin' but a [D] heart [Em] ache) Tell me [C] why (Ain't nothin' but a [D] mis [Em] take) (Tell me [C] why) I never wanna [D] hear you [G] say ( [Em] I want it [D] that [G] way)
[Bridge] [Em] Now I can see that we're fa [G/D] lling apart From the [C] way that it used to [Am] be, ye [D] ah No ma [Em] tter the distance I [G/D] want you to know That [C] deep down inside of [D] me... (Drums stop)
[Verse] You are [Em] my [C] fire [G] The one [Em] desi [C] re [G] (* higher, ** even higher) You [C] are *You are, *you [D] are, (goes higher) you [G] **are are [Em]
[Chorus] [D] (stop) Don't wanna hear you (full drums) [D] Ain't nothin' but a [E] heart [F#m] ache [D] Ain't nothin' but a [E] mist [F#m] take [D] I never wanna [E] hear you [A] say [F#m] I want it [E] that [A] way
[Chorus] Tell me [D] why Ain't nothin' but a [E] heart [F#m] ache Tell me [D] why Ain't nothin' but a [E] mis [F#m] take Tell me [D] why I never wanna [E] hear you [A] say [F#m] I want it [E] that [A] way
Tell me [D] why Ain't nothin' but a [E] heart [F#m] ache [D] Ain't nothin' but a [E] mis [F#m] take Tell me [D] why I never wanna [E] hear you [A] say (drums stop) [F#m] I want it [E] that [A] way
