View chords used in this chart
[Verso 1]
C F F7
Well if I was a banker I'd be a bad one
C G G7
And if I was a doctor I'd be broke
C C7 F F7
And if I was a lawyer, I'd have quite the reputation
D7 G C C7
Of wearing patched up jeans and a torn up coat
[Verso 2]
C C7 F F7
And if I was religious I'd be drunker
C G G7
And if I's a politician I'd die from smoke
C C7 C F7
And if I didn't know no better I'd run off on the bum
D7 G C
Without tellin' anybody that I know
[Refrão]
F C C7
Oscar Wilde wrote bout living like an artist
F Fadd9 G G7
And how an engineer's all an engineer could be
C C7 F F7
Well ain't it just a shame all them artists raised our rents up
D7 G C C7
When all their engineering fathers paid their lease
[Verso 3]
C C7 F F7
Well if I had a hammer I'd be famous
C C7 G G7
For singing older songs I barely know
C C7 F F
To young urban professional, real go-getter types y'know
D7 G C
Them golden boys and gals like all you folks
[Verso 4]
C C7 F F7
And if I played harmonica like Guthrie
C C7 G G7
I'd be a sugarfree Bob Dylan without a growl
C C7 F F7
I'd probably get more gigs, I'd probably kick against less pricks
D7 G C
But I could never jump a train good anyhow
[Refrão]
F C C7
And I once heard a drunk guy sing Irene goodnight
F Fadd9 G G7
In a way that made me wanna die on the barroom floor
C C7 F F7
But when I turn my radio on and hear them billion dollar songs
D7 G C
I wanna die in a different way for sure
[Verso 5]
C C7 F Fadd9
Well people think I'm joking when I'm singing
C C7 G G7
But in between these punchlines there's a truth
C C7 F Fadd9
And when it's plainly said, well it kinda messes with your head instead
D7 G C
Exchanging glances, you'll call me uncouth
[Verso 6]
C C7 F F7
But if I died a man of good persuasion
C C7 G G7
And all the damage I done, was to only me
C C7 F F7
Well when they laid my final bed, for that lonesome valley kind of rest
D7 G C
Well that'd be the greatest thing to be
F D7
Yeah that'd be the greatest thing
C G C
To be
How to play If
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 C. 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.