On The Nickel Live chords by Tom Waits

Chords with lyrics

On the Nickel (A augmentedA Wino's Lullabye)
Based on this live performance from 1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6V5DXk6TbA

Chorded by GWiZ ([email protected])


Capo on 4th Fret.

Verse 1:
G+G           D MajorD
Sticks and stones will break my bones,
G+G          D MajorD
But I always will be true,
G+G         D MajorD    /c#  B minorBm
When your mama is dead and gone,
        E minorEm        A7sus4A7sus4 - A7A7
I'll sing this lullaby just for you,
G+G          D MajorD
So what becomes of little boys,
G+G          D MajorD
Who never say their prayers,
G+G              D MajorD B minorBm
Well they're sleepin' like a baby,
    E minor 7Em7  A7A7  D MajorD
On the Nickel over there.

G+G         D MajorD
And if you chew tobacco,
G+G         D MajorD
And wish upon the star,
G+G                D MajorD /c#  B minorBm
Well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
          E minorEm           A7sus4A7sus4 - A7A7
Man they look like punchlines between the cars,
G+G             D MajorD
And I know a place where a royal flush,
G+G        D MajorD
Can never beat a pair,
G+G        D MajorD   B minorBm
And even Thomas Jefferson,
     E minorEm   A7A7  D MajorD
Is on the nickel over There.


G+G         D MajorD
So ring around the rosie,
G+G           D MajorD
You're sleepin in the rain,
G+G              D MajorD B minorBm
And you're always late for supper,
      E minorEm       A7A7
And man you let me down again,
G+G          D MajorD
I thought I heard a mocking bird,
G+G        D MajorD
Roosevelt knows where,
G+G              D MajorD   B minorBm
They're whisteling past the grave yard
          E minorEm   A augmentedA  D MajorD
And they're on the nickel over there.

G+G          D MajorD
So what becomes of little boys,
G+G         D MajorD
That run away from home,
G+G             D MajorD   B minorBm
Well the world keeps gettin' bigger,
E minorEm           A7sus4A7sus4 - A7A7
Once you get out on your own,

G+G              D MajorD
So climb up thru that buttonhole,
G+G            D MajorD
And fall right up the stairs,
G+G             D MajorD    B minorBm
I'll show you where the short dogs go,
    E minorEm    A7sus4A7sus4 A7A7 D MajorD
On the nickel...over there.


Seque into riff from Waltzing Matilda (not Tom Traubert's Blues)

D MajorD F#7F#7 B minorBm G+G
D MajorD B minorBm E minorEm A augmentedA
D MajorD F#7F#7 B minorBm G+G
D MajorD B minorBm A augmentedA D MajorD

Notes: Since this is played on the Piano originally, there's a lot of fiddling with singular tones to widen
the sound, generally you can feel free to experiment with 7's and sus4 and sus2s. The ending Waltzing Matilda
chord progression is a little different than the chords I found anywhere, the F#7F#7 is a Tom Waits substitution
but just sounds great.