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Better off Without a Wife
Appears on Nighthawks at the Diner
Version 1 | Version 2 | Version 3 | Version 4 | Lyrics
Version 1
D7sus4 = x00213
D7sus4/G = 3x0213
D7/F# = 2x0212
C/G = 3x2013
G D7sus4/G G D7sus4/G
G D7/F# Em7 Am7 D7
G D7sus4
All my friends are married
G D7sus4
Ev'ry Tom and Dick and Harry
G D7/F# Em Am D
It must be strong of you to go it alone
G D7sus4
Here's to the bachelors and the Bow'ry bums
G D7sus4
Those who feel that they're the ones that are
G Em Am D G C G G
Better Off Without a Wife
CHORUS:
C D
I been sleepin' until the crack of noon
G D7/F# Em
Midnight howlin' at the moon and I been
Am D
Goin' out when I want to, (and I'm)
G G7
Comin' home when I please
C D
Don't have to ask permission
G D7/F# Em
If I wanna go out fishin'
Am D7sus4 D7
Never have to ask for the keys
G D7sus4
Well, I never been no Valentino
G D7sus4
But I had a girl who lived in Reno
G D7/F# Em Am D
Left me for a trumpet player, but it didn't get me down
G D7sus4
He was wanted for assault, and though he
G D7sus4
Said it weren't his fault
G Em Am D G C/G G
You know the coppers rode him right outa town
Chorus
G D7sus4 G D7sus4
Ah, ya see, I'm kinda selfish about my privacy
G D7/F# Em Am
Now as long as I can be with me, we get along so well, I can
D
hardly believe it
G D7sus4
Love to chew the fat with folks
G D7sus4
I been list'nin' to all your dirty jokes
G Em Am D G C G G
I'm so thankful for these friends I do receive
Chorus
Version 2 -- 4/4 // Key of G // Andante (pretty slow)
-- each chord symbol OR slash = 1 beat
"Odd" Voicings-- D7sus4 D7sus4/G C/G D7/F# xxo___ __o___ ______ __o___ 1 ||||1| 1 ||||1| 1 ||||1| 1 ||||1| |||2|| |||2|| ||2||| 2x|3|4 |||||3 3x|||4 3x|||4 |||||| INTRO: 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | G / D7sus4/G / | G / D7sus4/G / | G D7/F# Em(7) / | Am(7) / D(7) / VERSE 1: G / D7sus4 / All my friends are married-- G / D7sus4 / Ev'ry Tom and Dick and Harry-- G D7/F# Em(7) / Am(7) / D(7) / It must be strong of you to go it alone-- G / D7sus4 / Here's to the bachelors and the Bow'ry bums-- G / D7sus4 / Those who feel that they're the ones that are G Em Am(7) D(7) G C/G G / Better Off Without a Wife-- CHORUS: C / D(7) / I been sleepin' until the crack of noon-- G D7/F# Em / Midnight howlin' at the moon-- and I been Am(7) / D(7) / Goin' out when I want to, (and I'm) G / G7 / Comin' home when I please-- C / D(7) / Don't have to ask permission G D7/F# Em / If I wanna go out fishin'-- Am(7) / / / D7sus4 / D7 / Never have to ask for the keys-- VERSE 2 [!!]: G / D7sus4 / Well, I never been no Valentino-- G / D7sus4 / But I had a girl who lived in Reno-- G D7/F# Em(7) / Am(7) / D(7) / Left me for a trumpet player, but it didn't get me down-- G / D7sus4 / He was wanted for assault, and though he G / D7sus4 / Said it weren't his fault-- G Em Am(7) D(7) G C/G G / You know the coppers rode him right outa town-- CHORUS VERSE 3: [_underlined_phrases_are_spoken_, ad-lib style] G / D7sus4 / G / D7sus4 / _Ah,_yu'_see,_I'm_kinda_selfish_about_my privacy_-- G D7/F# Em(7) / Am(7) / Now as long as I can be with me, _we_get_along_so_well,_I_can_ D(7) / _hardly_believe_it_-- G / D7sus4 / Love to chew the fat with folks-- G / D7sus4 / I been list'nin' to all your dirty jokes-- G Em Am(7) D(7) G C/G G / I'm so thankful for these friends I do receive-- CHORUS [...recording ends (& begins) with some "Here Comes the Bride" piano!]
G C All my friends are married G C Ev'ry Tom and Dick and Harry G C D You must be strong if you're to go it alone G C Here's to the bachelors and the bowery bums G C Those who feel that they're the ones that are G /F# /E /D G Better off without a wife C D I like to sleep until the crack of noon G /F# /E /D Midnight howlin' at the moon C D Goin' out when I want to G /F# /E /D and I'm comin' home when I please C D Don't have to ask permission G /F# /E /D If I wanna go out fishin' C D Never have to ask for the keys Well, I never been no Valentino But I had a girl who lived in Reno She left me for a trumpet player, but it didn't get me down He was wanted for assault, and though he said it weren't his fault You know the coppers rode him right outta town I like to sleep... Ah, you see, I'm kinda selfish about my privacy Now as long as I can be with me, we get along so well, I can't even believe it Love to chew the fat with folks - I been listening to all your dirty jokes I'm so thankful for these friends I do receive I like to sleep...
G / D7sus4 / G / D7sus4/
G / Em7 / Am7 / D7 / G / C / G
G D7sus4
All my friends are married
G D7sus4
Ev'ry Tom and Dick and Harry
G Em7 Am7 D7
It must be strong of you to go it alone
G D7sus4
Here's to the bachelors and the Bow'ry bums
G D7sus4
Those who feel that they're the ones that are
G Em Am7 D7 G C G
Better Off Without a Wife
CHORUS:
C D7
I been sleepin' until the crack of noon
G Em
Midnight howlin' at the moon and I been
Am7 D7
Goin' out when I want to, (and I'm)
G G7
Coming home when I please
C D7
Don't have to ask permission
G Em
if I wanna go out fishin'
Am7 D7sus4 D7
Never have to ask for the keys
G D7sus4
Well, I never been no Valentino
G D7sus4
But I had a girl who lived in Reno
G Em7 Am7 D7
Left me for a trumpet player, but it didn't get me down
G D7sus4
He was wanted for assault, and though he
G D7sus4
Said it weren't his fault
G Em Am7 D7 G C G
You know the coppers rode him right outa town
CHORUS :
C D7
I been sleepin' until the crack of noon
G Em
Midnight howlin' at the moon and I been
Am7 D7
Goin' out when I want to, (and I'm)
G G7
Comin' home when I please
C D7
Don't have to ask permission
G Em
if I wanna go out fishin'
Am7 D7sus4 D7
Never have to ask for the keys
G D7sus4
Ah yu' see, I'm kinda selfish
G D7sus4
about my privacy
G Em7
Now as long as I can be with me,
Am7 D7
we get along so well, I can hardly believe it
G D7sus4
Love to chew the fat with folks
G D7sus4
I been list'nin' to all your dirty jokes
G Em Am7 D7 G C G
I'm so thankful for these friends I do receive
all my friends are married
every Tom and Dick and Harry
you must be strong
to go it alone
here's to the bachelors
and the bowery bums
and those who feel that they're the ones
who are better off without a wife
I like to sleep until the crack of noon
midnight howlin' at the moon
goin' out when I wanto, comin' home when I please
I don't have to ask permission
if I want to go out fishing
and I never have to ask for the keys
never been no Valentino
had a girl who lived in Reno
left me for a trumpet player
didn't get me down
he was wanted for assault
though he said it weren't his fault
well the coppers rode him right
out of town
(chorus)
selfish about my privacy
as long as I can be with me
we get along so well I can't believe
I love to chew the fat with folks
and listen to all your dirty jokes
I'm so thankful for these friends
I do receive
(chorus)
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