I was only joking    (video)    (midi)

 

    G - Bm - G7 - C   - Cm - G - D - G

 

      G                          Bm               - G7                                   C

1.  Ever since I was a kid at school,     I messed around with all the rules,

Cm                          - G                      D                              - G

    apologized, then      realized, I’m not different after all.

G                                                Bm                - G7                 C

    Me and the boys thought we had it sussed,      Valentinos all of us,

Cm                                       G                   D                                        - G

    my dad said we looked ridiculous, but boy, we broke some hearts.

 

   G                               Bm              - G7                              C

2.    In and out of jobs, runnin‘ free,       wagin‘ war with society,

Cm                              G                       - D                                G

    dumb blank faces stare back at me,       but nothing ever changed.

       G                               Bm

    Promises made in the heat of the night,

G7                                      C

    creepin‘ home before it got too light,

Cm                            G                           D                              - G

    I wasted all that precious time, and blamed it on the wine.

 

                     C  D            G                           C        D          Em

+  I was only joking, my dear, looking for a way to hide my fear,

                          C     D G              Am           - D

    what kind of fool was I, I could never win.

 

    G                          Bm               - G7                                  C

3.     Never found a compromise,        collected lovers like butterflies,

Cm                          G                             D                          - G

    illusions of that grand first prize are slowly wearin‘ thin.

      G                              Bm             - G7                        C

    Susy baby, you were good to me,       giving love unselfishly,

Cm                                - G                       D                           - G

    but you took it all too        seriously, I guess it had to end.

 

                     C  D            G                           C        D          Em

+  I was only joking, my dear, looking for a way to hide my fear,

                          C     D G              Am           - D

    what kind of fool was I, I could never win.

 

+  G - Bm - G7 - C   - Cm - G - D - G

 

    G - C - D - Em       - Am - Em - Am - D     - G

 

 

 

 

    G                               Bm          - G7                                      C

4.    Now you ask me if I’m sincere,   that’s the question that I always fear,

Cm                        G                          D                                        G

    verse seven is never clear, but I’ll tell you what you want to hear.

G                          Bm              - G7                                        C

    I try to give you all you want,    but givin‘ love is not my strongest point,

Cm                                                 G                 D              G

    if that’s the case, it’s pointless going on, I’d rather be alone.

 

                     G                  Bm                     G7                          C

5. ‘Cause what I’m doing must be wrong, pourin‘ my heart out in a song,

Cm                              G                      D                            G

    owning up for prosperity, for the whole damn world to see.

       G                          - Bm

    Quietly now, while I         turn a page,

G7                                     C

    act one is over without costume change,

Cm                                         G

    the principal would like to leave the stage - - -

             D                          G

    the crowd don’t understand.

 

 

(orig. = capo 3rd)    (Rod Stewart)