Capo
3
Difficulty
Intermediate
Rate for accuracy
🎸
Key: Bb
* = single strum
Intro:
G
Gadd2 Gadd4
Verse 1:
Gadd2 C G
There's a God-shaped hole in the back of my head
Em D G
So I count on mathematics and the things that you said
Em C* G Gadd4
There's a you-sized hole in the pits of my bed
G C G
And there's a truth-sized hole in the back of your mind
Em D G
Just 'cause I miss you real bad doesn't mean you were right
Em C G Gadd2
Just 'cause you've got wings doesn't mean you can fly that high
Chorus:
Gadd4 C D
If you tell 'em a joke and the joke doesn't land
Em D G
Don't blame the joke 'cause it could be the man
Em D C
Don't try to cover it up with a laughing track
G
'Cause it ain't always the joke, babe
Verse 2:
Gadd2 C G
And I took your word like it was word of the law
Em D G
But looking back, the things you said were so messed up
Em C* G Gadd4
Your lack of faith in people led to my lack of faith in us
G C G
And ever since you left, I've been feeling like me
Em D G Em
I got my freckles back, I'm writing, it's pretty self-explanatory
C G Gadd2
You loved me real good, but baby, you're holding me down
Chorus:
Gadd4 C D
If you tell 'em a joke and the joke doesn't land
Em D G
Don't blame the joke 'cause it could be the man
Em D C
Don't try to cover it up with a laughing track
G
'Cause it ain't always the joke, babe
Post-Chorus:
G G
Bridge:
G
Being mean doesn't make you a funny person
G
You're trying hard to sell a single row
Gadd4 G
At your post-me one-man performance
G
I'm selling out my headline shows
G
If you tell 'em a joke and the joke doesn't land
G
It's time to take that joke to a new audience
G
Find somebody who makes you sound like a laughing track
G
Find somebody who just doesn't make fun of your friends (Yeah)
G
Find somebody who just doesn't rip your standards to shreds
G
I'm gonna say it again for the people at the back
Chorus:
Gadd4 C D
If you tell 'em a joke and the joke doesn't land
Em D G
Don't blame the joke 'cause it could be the man
Em D C
Don't try to cover it up with a laughing track
G
'Cause it ain't always the joke, babe
C D
If you tell 'em a joke and the joke doesn't land (Yeah)
Em D G
And he tells you, "Leave all the jokes to the man"
G
Then kick him
Video/Audio
Song History
Published: January 27, 2026
Last Updated: January 27, 2026