You May Be Right
Music and Lyrics by Billy Joel
From the album GLASS HOUSES (1980)
Also available on BILLY JOEL GREATEST HITS VOLUME II (1985)
This is definitely a two guitar song, but
THE MAIN RIFF:
A
E ---------3-2---0------3-2---0-----3-2---0-----3-2---0---------|
B -------------3------------3-----------3-----------3-----------|
G ---2---2------------2-----------2-----------2-----------------|
D --------------------------------------------------------------|
A --------------------------------------------------------------|
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
The chord playing underneath is the song's key -- A -- but the
above riff is most comfortably fretted as an open D and then
single-note picked. It's sort of a combination of a D and an
A7sus:
D A7sus
E ---2--------------3-------------------------------------------|
B ---3--------------3-------------------------------------------|
G ---2--------------2-------------------------------------------|
D ---0--------------2-------------------------------------------|
A --------------------------------------------------------------|
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
Try it, and I think it will be clearer than my explanation.
CHORDS USED IN THIS SONG:
A E7 Bm G E D F#m7
E -----0---2---3---0---2---2---------|
B -2---3---3---0---0---3---2---------|
G -2---1---4---0---1---2---2---------|
D -2---2---4---0---2---0---2---------|
A -0---2---2---2---2-----------------|
E -----0-------3---0-----------------|
THE LYRICS AND CHORDS:
VERSE 1
A
Friday night I trashed your party Saturday I said I'm sorry
E7
Sunday came and trashed me out again
Bm G
I was only having fun wasn't hurting anyone
E A
And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change
VERSE 2
I was stranded in the combat zone, I walked through Bedford Stuy
alone
Even rode my motorcycle in the rain
And you told me not to drive, but I made it home alive
So you said that only proves that I'm insane
REFRAIN
E
You may be right
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
B --------------------------------------------------------------|
G --------------------------------------------------------------|
D --------------------------------------------------------------|
A ---------------2--2--4--2-------------------------------------|
E ---0--0--3--4--------------0----------------------------------|
A
I may be crazy
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
B --------------------------------------------------------------|
G --------------------------------------------------------------|
D ---------------2--2--4--2-------------------------------------|
A ---0--0--3--4--------------0----------------------------------|
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
E D F#m7 A
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
E A
Turn off the light Don't try to save me
D E A
You may be wrong for all I know but you may be right
VERSE 3
Oh, remember how I found you there
Alone in your electric chair
I told you dirty jokes until you smiled
You were lonely for a man, I said "Take me as I am"
'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while
VERSE 4
Now think of all the years you tried to find someone to satisfy
you
I might be as crazy as you say
If I'm crazy then it's true that it's all because of you
And you wouldn't want it any other way
REPEAT REFRAIN
SOLO
E -----5-----5-----5-----5-----5------5-----5-----5-----5-----5-|
B --/4-5--/4-5--/4-5--/4-5--/4-5---/4-5--/4-5--/4-5--/4-5--/4-5-|
G --------------------------------------------------------------|
D --------------------------------------------------------------|
A --------------------------------------------------------------|
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
E -------------------12--------12--------12--------12--------12-|
B --5/7-P10--12b(14)---12b(14)---12b(14)---12b(14)---12b(14)----|
G --------------------------------------------------------------|
D --------------------------------------------------------------|
A --------------------------------------------------------------|
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
E ---------------------------------------------------------12---|
B ---------14-12------------------12-15-15~-15-15~-15-15-15--15-|
G -12b(13)-------b(13)12-------14-------------------------------|
D -----------------------14-------------------------------------|
A --------------------------------------------------------------|
E -----------------------------(sax arranged for guitar)--------|
E ------------------------------12------------12-12--12-12------|
B ----12-15-15~-15-15~-15-15-15----15---12-15-------------------|
G -14-----------------------------------------------------------|
D --------------------------------------------------------------|
A --------------------------------------------------------------|
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
E -12-12-12-14-17---14-12---------------------------------------|
B -------------------------14p12--------------------------------|
G --------------------------------14p11--14---------------------|
D --------------------------------------------------------------|
A --------------------------------------------------------------|
E --------------------------------------------------------------|
** SOLO NOTES **
The first line is Chuck Berry flavored, like the opening to many
of his songs. In the second line, the whole step bend on the
12th fret on the B string [12b(14)] is tricky; I often cheat it
and actually do a half step bend from the 13th fret [making it
13b(14)] because there's more room for your fingers, and if you
play it correctly, nobody but you will know the difference.
Also, in the third line, the G-string bend is a bitch, but it
apparently really is what he's playing, and it's a nice slow
bend; a little practice and you should be able to do it
perfectly.
REPEAT REFRAIN
A
You may be wrong but you may be right...(REPEAT AND FADE)
Have fun, and good luck...
Dan
DanAmrich@aol.com
