Billy Joel – Big Shot chords

Big Shot
By: Billy Joel

This is my interpretation of the song as I hear it. I am a dueling pianist and 
love to play and sing.

There are many chords in this song that are written as a triad over a bass note.  
This is because you should listen to the song and work out the correct syncopation 
with the bass and triad.  If timed correctly, you will find this works very well.

The Esus4 which appears commonly throughout should not have a third.  But if it 
did, it should be thought of as an Em rather than EMaj.
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Intro:

Em              G               Em              G
Em              D6              C       F/C     C



Verse 1:

              Esus4                 GWell you went uptown riding in your limousine
          Esus4            GWith your fine Park Avenue clothes
            Esus4                D6You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
                      C    F/C    CAnd the spoon up your nose


             Esus4                            GAnd when you wake up in the morning With your head on fire
         Esus4              GAnd your eyes too bloody to see
          Esus4                  D6Go on and cry in your coffee but don't 
                 C      F/C     CCome bitchin' to me



Chorus:

                        G/F F/C   G/F    F/CBecause you had to be a big shot, didn't you
           G/F  F/C     G/FYou had to open up your mouth
                G   F/D   G      F/DYou had to be a big shot, didn't you
         G            F/D        CAll your friends were so knocked out
    Em7             G/F  F/C   G/F  F/CYou had to have the last word, last night
              G/F  F/C      FYou know what everything's about
                  F/C   C   F/C  CYou had to have a white hot spotlight
    G/C         G/D D    G/D  DYou had to be a big shot last night



Break - Same as Intro:

Em              G               Em              G
Em              D6              C       F/C     C



Verse 2:

          Esus4                   GThey were all impressed with your Halston dress
        Esus4                   GAnd the people that you knew at Elaine's
        Esus4                   GAnd the story of your latest success
                 C      F/C     CKept 'em so entertained


               Esus4                       GAw but now you just can't remember all the things you said
           Esus4                GAnd you're not sure you want to know
              Esus4               D6I'll give you one hint, honey you sure 
             C  F/C     CDid put on a show



Chorus:

                          G/F F/C   G/F    F/CYes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
           G/F      F/C    G/FYou had to prove it to the crowd
                G   F/D   G      F/DYou had to be a big shot, didn't you
         G            F/D        CAll your friends were so knocked out
    Em7             G/F  F/C   G/F  F/CYou had to have the last word, last night
               G/F    F/C     FYou're so much fun to be around
                    F/C   C     F/C  CYou had to have the front page, bold type
    G/C         G/D D    G/D  DYou had to be a big shot last night Whoa...



Bridge:

F    F/A  F/C   C    C/E  C/GWhoa oh   oh    whoa whoa
G    G/B  G/D   D7Whoa oh   oh    whoa whoa
F    F/A  F/C   C    C/E  C/GWhoa oh   oh    whoa whoa
G    G/B  G/D   D7Whoa oh   oh    whoa whoa



Verse 3:

           Esus4                    GWell, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
       Esus4                     GIf you know when to leave it alone
             Esus4                      D6But you went over the line you couldn't see 
                  C     F/C     CIt was time to go home



Chorus:

                                        G/F F/C   G/F    F/CNo, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
           G/F  F/C     G/FYou had to open up your mouth
                G   F/D   G      F/DYou had to be a big shot, didn't you
         G            F/D        CAll your friends were so knocked out
    Em7             G/F  F/C   G/F  F/CYou had to have the last word, last night
        G/F    F/C     FSo much fun to be around
                  F/C   C   F/C  CYou had to have a white hot spotlight
    G/C         G/D D    G/D  DYou had to be a big shot last night



Fade Out on Chorus Chords:

G/F     F/C     G/F     F/C
G/F     F/C     G/F     F/C
G       F/D     G       F/D
G       F/D     G       F/D