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...