Verse
         G                 C
You can lock all the doors;
                   Am
Close up the house;
                        Em
Pretend you're not home;
                      Am
Stay quiet as a mouse;
                                         B7
Shut all the shutters and turn out the lights;
         Am                  Em
But the blues got a skeleton key.

Verse     
          G         
You can throw a wild party
         C          Am
For the usual crowd;

Serve margaritas;
           Em           Am
Turn the volume up loud;
                                       B7
Burn the candle both ends night after night,
         Am                   Em
But the blues got a skeleton key.

Chorus
           C                  G    D
Well, the blues don't go with my decor,
      Am                    Em    B7
But still the come creepin' in;
                              Em 
And you can't help wond'rin' what's it all for
        Am                      B7              Em
When without any warnin', your heart hits the floor;
Am                    D
Bartender, pour me a gin.

Verse
         G
You can call up the cops;
C
File a complaint;
         Am
Snort a kilo of charlie;
Em
Live like a saint;
         Am                                         B7
You can hide from your heart and pretend you don't see,
         Am                  Em
But the blues got a skeleton key.

Chorus
           C                     G     D
Well, the blues don't need any reason
         Am                        Em     B7
Just to come up and hit you from behind;
                                     Em
They'll take you in each and ev'ry season;
      Am        B7                Em
Hold you hostage to each tawdry treason,
Am                         D
Bartender, pull down the blind.

Verse
         G                 C
You can run like the wind,
                      Am
Or give up the chase;
                            Em
You can beg them for mercy,
                            Am
They'll laugh in your face;
                                                    B7
'Cause once you're their prisoner, you'll never be free;
           Am                   Em
Yeah, the blues got a skeleton key.
           Am            B7    Am Em
Yeah, the blues got a skeleton ke-y.