Dinner Bell by They Might Be Giants
[Convention: each chord is two beats/half a measure. A dash indicates that
the chord is held for another two beats; two chords with a slash between
them are held for one beat/a quarter of a measure each.
The chords preceding the verses (the ones followed by colons) are lead-ins
to the verses and are held for the usual two beats.]
G C Bb C
I’ve been leaving on my things
F Gm Bb C
so in the morning when the morning bird sings
Dm F E — Am E Am
there’s still dinner on my dinner jacket till the dinner bell rings
F:
Bb — — — F —
Experimental dog
E — — — B —
salivating dog
G — D —
good dog
Am Em Am Dm
waiting for the dinner bell
Am E Am
dinner bell dinner bell ring
D:
I’ve been leaving on my things
so in the morning when the morning bird sings
there’s still dinner on my dinner jacket till the dinner bell rings
F:
I don’t want a pizza I don’t want a piece of peanut brittle I don’t want a pear
I don’t want a bagel I don’t want a bean I wouldn’t like a bag of beef or a beer
or a cup of chowder corn cake or creamed cauliflower
’cause I’m waiting for the dinner bell to do the bell thing
dinner bell ring
B:
Em F#m G A
shoulder bicep elbow arm
D Em F G
forearm thumb wrist knuckle palm
C D Esus4 E
middle pinky index ring
Am E Am
dinner bell dinner bell ding
F:
I don’t know whether I’d rather be having a bottle of vinegar
I don’t know whether I’d rather be having an egg
I don’t know whether I’d rather be having an order of bacon
or whether I’d rather be having a basket of garlic bread
I don’t know whether I’d rather be having some pie
or saving my appetite
’cause I’m waiting for the dinner bell to do the bell thing
dinner bell dinner bell ring
-E.M.