Billy Joel - Big Shot

big shot
by : billy joel

this is my interpretation of the song as i hear it . i Am a dueling pianist and
love to play and sing .

there are many chords in this song that are written as a triad over a bass note .
this is because you should listen to the song and work out the correct syncopation
with the bass and triad . if timed correctly , you will find this works very well .

the Esus4 which appears commonly throughout should not have a third . but if it
did , it should be thought of as an Em rather than Emaj .
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

intro :

Em G Em G
Em D6 C F/C C

verse 1 :

Esus4 G
well you went uptown riding in your limousine
Esus4 G
with your fine park avenue clothes
Esus4 D6
you had the dom perignon in your hand
C F/C C
and the spoon up your nose

Esus4 G
and when you wake up in the morning with your head on fire
Esus4 G
and your eyes too bloody to see
Esus4 D6
go on and cry in your coffee but don’t
C F/C C
come bitchin’ to me

chorus :

G/F F/C G/F F/C
because you had to be a big shot , didn’t you
G/F F/C G/F
you had to open up your mouth
G F/D G F/D
you had to be a big shot , didn’t you
G F/D C
all your friends were so knocked out
Em7 G/F F/C G/F F/C
you had to have the last word , last night
G/F F/C F
you know what everything’s about
F/C C F/C C
you had to have a white hot spotlight
G/C G/D D G/D D
you had to be a big shot last night

break – same as intro :

Em G Em G
Em D6 C F/C C

verse 2 :

Esus4 G
they were all impressed with your halston dress
Esus4 G
and the people that you knew at elaine’s
Esus4 G
and the story of your latest success
C F/C C
kept ’em so entertained

Esus4 G
aw but now you just can’t remember all the things you said
Esus4 G
and you’re not sure you want to know
Esus4 D6
i’ll give you one hint , honey you sure
C F/C C
did put on a show

chorus :

G/F F/C G/F F/C
yes , yes , you had to be a big shot , didn’t you
G/F F/C G/F
you had to prove it to the crowd
G F/D G F/D
you had to be a big shot , didn’t you
G F/D C
all your friends were so knocked out
Em7 G/F F/C G/F F/C
you had to have the last word , last night
G/F F/C F
you’re so much fun to be around
F/C C F/C C
you had to have the front page , bold type
G/C G/D D G/D D
you had to be a big shot last night whoa . . .

bridge :

F F/A F/C C C/E C/G
whoa oh oh whoa whoa
G G/B G/D D7
whoa oh oh whoa whoa
F F/A F/C C C/E C/G
whoa oh oh whoa whoa
G G/B G/D D7
whoa oh oh whoa whoa

verse 3 :

Esus4 G
well , it’s no big sin to stick your two cents in
Esus4 G
if you know when to leave it alone
Esus4 D6
but you went over the line you couldn’t see
C F/C C
it was time to go home

chorus :

G/F F/C G/F F/C
no , no , no , no , no , no , you had to be a big shot , didn’t you
G/F F/C G/F
you had to open up your mouth
G F/D G F/D
you had to be a big shot , didn’t you
G F/D C
all your friends were so knocked out
Em7 G/F F/C G/F F/C
you had to have the last word , last night
G/F F/C F
so much fun to be around
F/C C F/C C
you had to have a white hot spotlight
G/C G/D D G/D D
you had to be a big shot last night

fade out on chorus chords :

G/F F/C G/F F/C
G/F F/C G/F F/C
G F/D G F/D
G F/D G F/D