Typical Self-Made American chords by
George Gershwin
George Gershwin

N/A
Key: A major
Verse 1
C
C
While other lads were trying
Am
Am
out the bicycle,
G
G
C
C
Ab
Ab
F
F
Or pitching pennies on the parlor floor,
Gsus4
Gsus4
G
G
C
C
Their pleasures left me
Abaug
Abaug
colder than an icicle,
D
D
C
C
D
D
G
G
C
C
For I knew what I was predestined for.
D
D
G
G
D
D
Yes, he knew what he
G
G
A
A
D
D
was predestined for.
Dm
Dm
G
G
C
C
I got a job and worked both
Am
Am
day and night at it.
G
G
C
C
I watched the cheese
Ab
Ab
F
F
but never watched the clock.
G
G
C
C
The big boss thought I was
Abaug
Abaug
Am
Am
so very bright at it.
F#dim
F#dim
D
D
G
G
Abdim
Abdim
Am
Am
But when he died he left me all the stock.
D
D
C
C
Dm
Dm
I was there when opportun
F
F
G
G
C
C
ity came to knock.
D
D
G
G
D
D
Like the hero in an outer novel,
F#dim
F#dim
G
G
A
A
he was born and brought up in a hobble.
D
D
G
G
D
D
Though I often had to face disaster,
G
G
Gm
Gm
D
D
I would al ways prove myself a master.
Gm
Gm
D
D
He would always prove himself a master.
G
G
I'm a man of very quick decision,
D
D
G
G
A
A
for I always have the gift of vision.
D
D
G
G
A
A
He upholds the country's constitution,
D
D
G
G
Gm
Gm
Am
Am
and he hates the Russian Revolution.
D
D
Gm
Gm
D
D
How he makes the Russian Revolution!
G
G
F
F
He opposes the country's laws
Bb
Bb
Cm
Cm
F
F
Because, because, because, be cause
Bb
Bb
F
F
Bb
Bb
F
F
I am a typical self -made American
Bb
Bb
F
F
I've been a go -getter
Bb
Bb
F
F
ever since life began
Bb
Bb
In a modest way I feel,
Bbm
Bbm
I am basically sound,
Eb
Eb
Gm
Gm
C
C
with my shoulder to the wheel,
Cm
Cm
F
F
and my two feet on the ground.
Eb
Eb
He is a typical, typical,
Bb
Bb
Eb
Eb
F
F
typical South Bay American.
Bb
Bb
Gm
Gm
Edim
Edim
D
D
Gm
Gm
Em
Em
A
A
D
D
C
C
D
D
From the
G
G
A
A
lowest of the ranks I've risen
C
C
G
G
Now both honor
A
A
and success are his 'n
G
G
Always fighting for
D
D
the small consumer
F#dim
F#dim
G
G
An d now tell him of
Gm
Gm
D
D
your sense of humor
Gm
Gm
D
D
Of your devastating sense of humor
G
G
A
A
I'm a mason and an elk and woodman
C
C
G
G
Which unquestionably
A
A
shows a good man.
G
G
A
A
I've been very good to dear old mother
D
D
G
G
Gm
Gm
D
D
So we'll never work for any other.
Gm
Gm
D
D
We don't care to work for any other.
G
G
F
F
And we give him our applause,
Bb
Bb
Eb
Eb
Bb
Bb
because, because,
Gm
Gm
Cm
Cm
F
F
be cause, be cause
He is a typical self -made American.
With wheat cakes for breakfast,
Bb
Bb
F
F
cornflakes and lots of bread.
Bb
Bb
I'm as good a man, I feel,
Bbm
Bbm
Eb
Eb
as a ruler who is crowned
Gm
Gm
With my shoulder to the wheel
Cm
Cm
F
F
and my two feet on the ground
Bb
Bb
I am a typical, typical, typical,
Eb
Eb
F
F
Bb
Bb
self -made American

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