Hey, Mr. DJ, I thought you said we had a deal 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.
Capo up two frets to be in the original key.]
Intro:
|: G D C — 😐 (x4)
1.
|: G D C — 😐 (x3)
I could never sleep my way to the top
’cause my alarm clock always wakes me right up
and since my options have been whittled away
A — D —
I struck a bargain with my radio DJ
I said, «I’d like this song to be number one»
he said, «I’d really really like to help you, my son»
and then I knew that I would have him to thank
because he asked me how much I had in the bank
|: G D C —
He said to think long-term investment
Em Em+maj7 C — 😐 [Em+maj7: 021000]
and that all the others had forgiven themselves
because the net reward had justified
the collossal mess they made of their lives
2.
He said the record wouldn’t have to be hot
and no one ever seemed to care if it’s not
it would depend on something else that I’ve got
and that the others who had given it a shot
Had seen a modest sum grow geometrically
and then they had forgiven themselves
because the net reward had justified
the collossal mess they made of their lives
Chorus:
G D Em D C D
Hey, Mr. DJ, I thought you said we had a deal
G D
I thought you said
C D Em D
«You scratch my back and I’ll scratch your record»
C D G —
and I thought you said we had a deal
Instrumental:
|: G D C — 😐 (x4)
3.
Well I told you about the world (it’s address)
I wonder when they’re going to clean up the mess
you know the Rabid Child is still tuning in
Chess Piece Face’s patience must be wearing thin
Because they haven’t played this song on the air
not that anyone but me even cared
and the disc jockey has moved out of town
the district courthouse says he’s nowhere to be found
He said to think long-term investment
and that all the others had forgiven themselves
He said the net reward would justify
the collossal mess they made of their lives
(Chorus and instrumental fade)
-E.M.