Mean (Live)
View chords used in this chart
Intro:
C#m B
You with your words
A
like knives and swords
And weapons that
you use against me
C#m B
You have knocked me
A
off my feet again
Got me feeling like a nothing
C#m B
You with your voice like
A
nails on a chalk board
Callin me out when I'm wounded
C#m B A
You picking on the weaker man
Refrain 1:
B
Well you can take me down
E A B
with just one single blow
A
But you don't know
what you don't know
Chorus 1:
E B C#m
Someday I'll be living
A
in a big old city
E B
And all you're ever
A
gonna be is mean
E B C#m
Someday I'll be big
A
enough so you can't hit me
E B
And all you're ever
A
gonna be is mean
E D E B/Eb
Why you gotta be so mean?
Verse 2:
C#m
You with your
B
switching sides and
A
Your wild fire lies
and your humiliation
C#m B A
You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don't already see them
C#m B
I walk with my head down
A
trying to block you out
cause I never impress you
C#m B A
I just wanna feel okay again
Refrain 2:
B
I bet you got pushed around
E A B
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now cause
A
You can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know
Chorus 2:
E B C#m
Someday I'll be living
A
in a big old city
E B
And all you're ever
A
gonna be is mean
E B C#m
Someday I'll be big
A
enough so you can't hit me
E B
And all you're ever
A
gonna be is mean
E D E B
Why you gotta be so mean?
Guitar Solo: A B A
Bridge:
B
And I can't see you years
from now in a bar
E A B
Talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion
E A B
But no one's listening
Washed up and ranting about the
C#m B A
same old bitter things
B
Drunk and grumbling all
C#m B A
about how I can't sing
E B C#m
But all you are is mean
A E
All you are is mean and a
B C#m
liar and pathetic
A E
And alone in life and mean
B C#m A
and mean and mean and mean
Chorus 3:
E
Someday I'll be living
in a big old city
And all you're ever
gonna be is mean yeah
E B C#m
Someday I'll be big
A
enough so you can't hit me
E B
And all you're ever
A
gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
Chorus 4:
E B C#m
Someday I'll be living
A
in a big old city
E B
And all you're ever
A
gonna be is mean
E B C#m
Someday I'll be big
A
enough so you can't hit me
E B
And all you're ever
A
gonna be is mean
E
Why you gotta be so mean?
How to play Mean (Live)
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#m. 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.