Oingo Boingo – Only A Lad (Guitar)

Capo 1 Video Lesson
Key
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Versions (3)

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Chords

Track 6 of 10 on the album "Only A Lad" (1981) [Intro] C Am C Cadd9 C Am C Cadd9 C [Verse 1]
Am                                                   C Cadd9 C
Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell

Am                                                                    C Cadd9 C
Everyone said, "If you don't get straight, you'll surely go to Hell!"
[Pre-Chorus]
F                      C
   But Johnny didn't care

                        F
He was an outlaw by the time that he was ten years old

                        G
He didn't wanna do what he was told

Am                  G
   Just a prankster

  Am
A juvenile gangster

F                            C
   His teachers didn't understand, they kicked him out of school

     F
At a tender early age just because

                  G
He didn't want to learn things

Am                     G
   Had other interests

Am
   He liked to burn things!
[Interlude] Am C Cadd9 C Am C Cadd9 C [Pre-Chorus]
F                      C
   The lady down the block

                     F
She had a radio that Johnny wanted, oh, so bad

                        G
So he took it the first chance he had

    Am                          G
And then he shot her in the leg

Am
   But this is what she said
[Chorus]
      Am              F
(He's only a lad) You really can't blame him

 Am            F
(Only a lad) Society made him

 Am               F               G
(Only a lad) He's our responsibility

     C
Oh, oh, whoa whoa

 Am             F
(Only a lad) He really couldn't help it

 Am             F
(Only a lad) He didn't want to do it

 Am               F                    G
(Only a lad) He's underprivileged and abused

          C
Perhaps a little bit confused

G            C              Am
Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa whoa

               C Cadd9 C
Whoa whoa whoa

Am                 C Cadd9 C
Oh, whoa whoa whoa
[Bridge] F C G Am F C G E F Bb A Am [Verse 2]
    Am                                                    C Cadd9 C
His parents gave up, they couldn't influence his attitude

  Am                                               C Cadd9 C
Nobody could help, the little man had no gratitude
[Pre-Chorus]
F                          C
   And when he stole the car

                             F
Nobody dreamed that he would try to take it so far

                          G
He didn't mean to hit the poor man

Am                       G
   Who had to go and die

Am
   It made the judge cry
[Chorus]
 Am             F
(Only a lad) He really couldn't help it

 Am             F
(Only a lad) He didn't want to do it

 Am               F                    G
(Only a lad) He's underprivileged and abused

          C
Perhaps a little bit confused

G            C
Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa
[Bridge]
     Am
It's not his fault that he can't behave

  Am
Society's made him go astray

   Am
Perhaps if we're nice, he'll go away

   F              C              F   C
Perhaps he'll go away, he'll go away-ay
[Chorus]
 Am              F
(Only a lad) You really can't blame him

 Am            F
(Only a lad) Society made him

 Am                F               G   C
(Only a lad) Is he our responsibility?
[Outro Chorus]
Am                     F
Hey there, Johnny, you really don't fool me

    Am                           F
You get away with murder and you think it's funny

    Am                      F
You don't give a damn if we live or if we die

G            C
Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa whoa

G                     C    B        Bb
Hey there, Johnny Boy... I hope you fry!
[Outro] Am C Cadd9 C
Am                 C Cadd9 C
Oh, whoa whoa whoa

Am                     C Cadd9 C
Oh, whoa whoa whoa, oh-oh