View chords used in this chart
Intro:Cm G Cm G B7 (descending notes G, F#, E)
Verse:
Em A7
As young boy Michael helped his mother cook
Em B7
Down by her apron strings the whole day long
Em A7
Knife in hand her eyes trained on the recipe book
C D
He'd salivate as she sang out this song
Chorus:
G C
Cut the onions, start the dicing,
D G
Listen up Mike, it's the right thing
G C
Chop the parsnip, for a rich dish,
Cm G
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
Cm G (B7)
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
Verse:
When in college our lad made some special friends
Kept him from subversives and their kind
Swirled within a world of sports and dividends
And the song they sang was etched apon his mind
Chorus:
Cut the hair off the hippies sleeping
Listen up Mike, it's the right thing
Chop the fringes, off the freakish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
Verse:
35 a burning drive possessed him
To be the greatest golfer in North Bay
Sometimes a fear of failure near obsessed him
And then he'd hear the other golfers say
Chorus:
Cut the motion on your back swing
Listen up Mike, it's the right thing
Chop the golf ball with a big swish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
Verse:
Now he's breaking bread with heads of industry
The Capitan in the Autumn of his years
He proceeds with masionical rapidity
When he echos mothers words he hears the cheers
Chorus:
Cut the welfare and public housing
Listen up Mike it's the right thing
Chop the healthcare, you'll get your wish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish (everyone!)
Cut the child care and the schooling
Listen up Mike it's the Right Wing
Chop the free lunch for the poorish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish
In the small pond you'll be a big fish!
How to play Big Fish
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Cm. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.