Billy Cant Read
View chords used in this chart
Afinação: E A D G B ECapotraste: Sem capotraste
[Verse 1]
A
His momma and daddy were very poor,
D A
and they never went to school.
D A
Billy followed in their footsteps,
E
like a lot of children do.
A
He had to get a job to help pay the bills,
D A
so his younger brother Ben.
D A
Might go to school and learn to read and write,
E A
and maybe he could teach all of them.
[Chorus]
D A
But Billy can't read, no Billy can't read.
D A
But he gives 200 percent
E
for the minimum wage that he receives.
D
Sometimes he pretends like he can as he looks.
A D
And he laughs at the pictures in the funny books.
E
But it really ain't funny you see,
A
that Billy can't read.
[Verse 2]
A
Then the boss man came around,
D A
talked to Billy one day.
D A
He said, "Now Billy you're the hardest worker I've got,
E
and you sure deserve more pay.
A
But the boss at the top says I have to give,
D A
each foreman a written test.
D A
Billy hung his head cause he knew right then,
E A
he'd always have to settle for less.
[Chorus]
D A
Cause Billy can't read, no Billy can't read.
D A
But he gives 200 percent,
E
for the minimum wage that he receives.
D
Sometimes he pretends like he can as he looks.
A D
And he laughs at the pictures in the funny books.
E
But it really ain't funny you see,
A
that Billy can't read.
[Verse 3]
A
Little Ben never took for granted,
D A
all his brother Billy's sacrifice.
D A
Every night while the family slept,
E
they would sit up late by that old lamp light.
A
Sounding out the "A's" and the "E's" and the "I's"
D A
and the "O's" and "U's".
D A
Now he is reading everything from the cereal box,
E
to the Bible three times through.
[Chorus]
D A
Cause Billy can read, yeah Billy can read.
D A
And now the rest of his life will be different,
E
because of the special gift he received.
D
Now he don't have to act like he's laughing as he looks.
A D
At the silly pictures in those funny books.
E
They're as funny as they can be,
A
now that Billy can read.
[Tag]
E
Yeah his life is much better you see,
A
now that Billy can read.
How to play Billy Cant Read
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 E. 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.