E: 022100
A: X02220
B5: X244XX
C#5: X466XX
D: XX0232

(dots succeeding a chord indicate the number of beats it is held for)

Verse:
C#5..          B5..                  A....
You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
C#5..    B5..              A....
You have knocked me off my feet again, got me feeling like a nothing
C#5..          B5..                  A....
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm
          C#5..
wounded / You
B5..                   A....
picking on the weaker man

Pre-chorus:
B5....                     E..           A..
Well, you can take me down with just one single
B5....     A....
blow / But you don't know, what you don't know

Chorus:
E..     B5..    C#5..               A..
Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city and
E..        B5..             A....
all you're ever gonna be is mean
E..     B5..    C#5..                   A..
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me and
E..        B5..             A....
all you're ever gonna be is mean
                   E....
Why you gotta be so mean?

D. E...



Verse:
C#5..          B5..                     A....
You, with your switching sides and your wildfire lies and your humiliation
C#5..    B5..           A....
You have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them
C#5..       B5..                   A....
I walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
C#5..  B5..          A....
I just want to feel okay again

Pre-chorus:
B5....                           E..      A..
I'll bet you got pushed around / Somebody made you
B5..                                      A....
cold, but the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road and
A....                
you don't know, what you don't know

Chorus:
E..     B5..    C#5..               A..
Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city and
E..        B5..             A....
all you're ever gonna be is mean
E..     B5..    C#5..                   A..
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me and
E..        B..              A....
all you're ever gonna be is mean
                   EWhy (022100@1)you gotta be so mean?

Mandolin solo:
D. E... B5.... A....

Bridge:
          B5....                          E..            A..      B5.... 
And I can see you years from now in a bar talking over a football game
                                     E..      A..
with that same big, loud opinion but nobody's listening 
B5....                          C#5..    B5..   A....
Washed up and ranting about the same ol' bitter things
B5....                           C#5..   A..
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing,
    A..
but all you are is
E..B5..C#5..A..
mean    /    All you are is
E..        B5..       C#5..       A..
mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life and
E..      B5..     C#5..    A..
mean and mean and mean and mean

Chorus:
     E..     B5..    C#5 (x133xx@4)               A5But, (x022xx@1)someday I'll be living in a big ol' city and
E..        B5..             A....
all you're ever gonna be is mean / Yeah-yeah
E..     B5..    C#5..                   A..
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me and
E..        B5 (x244xx@1)             A....                    E..
all you're ever gonna be is mean
                                (Why you gotta be so mean?)
        B5..    C#5..               A..                 E..
Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city and
                                    (Why you gotta be so mean?)
           B5..             A..                      E..
all you're ever gonna be is mean
                                (Why you gotta be so mean?)
        B5..    C#5..                   A..                E..
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me and
                                       (Why you gotta be so mean?)
           B5..             A..
all you're ever gonna be is mean
                   E:|| (022100@1)Why you gotta be so mean?