Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind

artist : nick lowe
song : cruel to be kind
tabbed by : dj
26th feb 2013

tuning : standard

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C G/B F/A G
| | : / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / : | | ( twice )

G C Em
| / / / / | oh , i can’t stand another . . . heartache ,
F Dm7/G
though you say you’re my friend , i’m at my wits end ,
C Em
you say your love is . . . bona fide ,
F Em Dm F
but that don’t coin – cide . . . with the things that you do ,
Em F Dm7/G
and when i ask you to be nice , you say . . .

F G Em Am Am
you gotta be cruel to be kind , in the right mea – sure ,
^ ^
F G Em Am Am
cruel to be kind , it’s a very good sign ,
^ ^
F G Em Am Am Dm7/G
cruel to be kind , means that i love you , baby – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
^ ^ ( babe , gotta be cruel! )

C G/B F/A G
you gotta be cruel to be kind! | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C Em
well , i do my best to under . . . stand , dear ,
F Dm7/G
but , you still mystify , and i wanna know why ,
C Em
i pick myself up . . . off the ground ,
F Em Dm F
to have you . . . knock me back down . . . again and A – gain ,
Em F Dm7/G
and when i ask you to ex – plain , you say . . .

F G Em Am Am
you gotta be cruel to be kind , in the right mea – sure ,
^ ^
F G Em Am Am
cruel to be kind , it’s a very good sign ,
^ ^
F G Em Am Am Dm7/G
cruel to be kind , means that i love you , baby – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
^ ^ ( babe , gotta be cruel! )

C A7
you gotta be cruel to be kind! oo , oo – oo ! oo , oo , oo – – – !

F G Em Am Am
| | : / / / / | / / / / : | | ( three times )
^ ^
Dm7/G
| /_/ /_/ /_/ /_/ | /_/ /_/ /_/ /_/ | /_/ /_/ /_/

C Em
well , i do my best to under . . . stand , dear ,

F Dm7/G
but , you still mystify , and i wanna know why ,
C Em
i pick myself up . . . off the ground ,
F Em Dm F
to have you . . . knock me back down . . . again and A – gain ,
Em F Dm7/G
and when i ask you to ex – plain , you say . . .

F G Em Am Am
you gotta be cruel to be kind , in the right mea – sure ,
^ ^
F G Em Am Am
cruel to be kind , it’s a very good sign ,
^ ^

F G Em Am Am Dm7/G
cruel to be kind , means that i love you , baby – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
^ ^ ( babe , gotta be cruel! )

F G Em Am Am
you gotta be cruel to be kind – – – – , oh , in the right mea – sure ,
( cruel to be kind! ) ^ ^

F G Em Am Am F G
it’s a very , very , very good sign ,
( cruel to be kind! ) ^ ^ ( cruel to be kind – – – ! )

Em Am Am Dm7/G
it means that i love you , baby – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
^ ^ ( babe , you gotta be cruel – – – ! )

F G Em Am Am
you gotta be cruel to be kind – – – – , oh , in the right mea – sure ,
( cruel to be kind! ) ^ ^

F G Em Am Am F G
it’s a very , very , very good sign ,
( cruel to be kind! ) ^ ^ ( cruel to be kind – – – ! )

Em Am Am Dm7/G
it means that i love you , baby – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
^ ^ ( babe , you gotta be cruel – – – ! )

[ suggestion for coda : ]
F Dm7/G C
you gotta be cruel to be kind – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
| / / / / | / | |

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C = x32010
G/B = x20003
F/A = x02210
G = 355433
Em = 022000
Dm = xx0231
F = 133211
Dm7/G = 300211
Am/G = 302210
Am = x02210
A7 = x02020