St. Vincent – Happy Birthday Johnny (Ukulele)

Key
-
Versions (2)

Auto-scroll

Chords

[Verse 1]
  C
Remember one Christmas, I gave you Jim Carroll

  Cmaj7
Intended it as a cautionary tale

 F
You said you saw yourself inside there

G
Dog-eared it like a how-to manual

   C
Remember one summer, we walked in Times Square

   Cmaj7
I showed you the zombies with hundred-inch stares

 F
You took a Bic, set your hotel on fire

 G                           G7
We took the blame, took the bags to the train
[Chorus 1]
       F                G
Happy Birthday, Johnny

              Am
Wherever you are

       F                G
Happy Birthday, Johnny

             C
Wherever you are
[Verse 2]
    C
The last time you called it was on New Years' Eve

     Cmaj7
You asked me for dough to get somethin' to eat

 F
Since we last spoke, you live on the street

           G                      G7
Yeah, I wouldn't believe all the shit that you've seen
[Chorus 2]
      F                 G
Happy New Year, Johnny

      Am
Is it 23?

       F                G
Happy New Year, Johnny

                         Cmaj7
Are there lights on the trees?
[Interlude] F G Am Cmaj7 F Am G7 [Verse 3]
        C
When I said, “Let me think,” and you yelled through your teeth

    Cmaj7
Accused me of acting like all royalty

 F
Always for show, no true charity

 G
You saw me on magazines and TV
[Verse 4]
        C
But if they only knew the real version of me

      Cmaj7
Only you know the secrets, the swamp, and the fear

 F
What happened to blood? Our family?

 G                   G7              F  G
Annie, how could you do this to me?
[Outro]
                   Am
Of course, I blame me

          F                G
When you get free, Johnny

                      C
I hope you find peace