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If It Makes You Happy

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

The key to getting this song to sound just like the original is to play a
standard G chord with fingers 3, 2 & 4 and then use fingers 1 & 2 (index, middle)
to tap on and off fret 1 on the B and fret 2 on the G string to finger a D7sus4,
then hammer fret 2 on the D string (verses only, not the chorus).
Listen to the song to get the feel for the strum and the tap on/off timing.
G       32000(3)
D7sus4  xx021(3)
[Intro]
|    G|    G|    G|    G|
|    G|    G|    G| G  
[Verse 1]
I've been Glong, a long way from hGere
GPut on a poncho, played for mosquitoes,
                              G  C*
And drank 'til I was thirsty again
We went Gsearching through thrift store jGungles
Found GeGronimo's rifle, Marilyn's shampoo
                               G  C*
And Benny Goodman's corset and pen
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Well, oCkay, I made this Dup…  I Cpromised you I'd never give uDp
[Chorus]
N.C.                Am                    C            G  D  
If it makes you happy   it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad
If it makes you hAmappy   Cthen why the hell are you sGo sad?
[Verse 2]
You get dGown, real lGow down
You Glisten to Coltrane, derail your own train
Well, Gwho hasn't been there befoCre?
I come Ground, around the hGard way
Bring you Gcomics in bed; scrape the mold off the bread,
And Gserve you French toast agaiCn
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Well, oCkay, I still get Dstoned…  I'm Cnot the kind of girl you'd take Dhome
[Chorus]
N.C.                Am                    C            G  D  
If it makes you happy   it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad
If it makes you hAmappy   Cthen why the hell are you sGo sad?
If it makes you hAmappy   Cit can't be that Gba-aa-aa-adD  
If it makes you hAmappy   Cthen why the hell are you sEmo sad?
[Bridge]
|(Em) |   Em|   Am|   Am|
|   Em|   Em|   Am|   Am|
|    G|    G|    G| G  
[Verse 3]
We've been fGar, far away from hGere
GPut on a poncho, played for mosquitoes,
                      G  C*
And everywhere in between
[Pre-Chorus 3]
Well, oCkay, we get alDong…  so Cwhat if right now everything's wrDong?
[Chorus]
N.C.                Am                    C            G  D  
If it makes you happy   it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad
If it makes you hAmappy   Cthen why the hell are you sGo sad?
If it makes you hAmappy   Cit can't be that Gba-aa-aa-adD  
If it makes you hAmappy   Cthen why the hell are you sGo sad?
[Outro]
|   Am|    C|    G|    D|
|   Am|    C|
|    G|    G|    G|    G|
|    G|    G| G  
C* - this particular C chord is played similarly to the preceding G chord with
your pinky on the string 1; G note (fret 3). When changing from the preceding G
chord merely drop fingers 2 and 3 one string down.

All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

"If It Makes You Happy" captures a feeling of weary resignation, a moment where the narrator has traveled far and seen much, from "Geronimo's rifle" to "Marilyn's shampoo." Despite these experiences, there's a sense of being "real low down" and accepting that even if "everything's wrong," getting along is enough. Released as the lead single from Sheryl Crow's self-titled 1996 album, this song, co-written with Jeff Trott, became a signature track, earning a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. It plays like an anthem for finding a fragile peace in the midst of life's imperfections.

AI-written from these sources:If It Makes You Happy — Wikipedia ↗Sheryl Crow — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

If It Makes You Happy

If It Makes You Happy

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If It Makes You Happy

by Sheryl Crow

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

The key to getting this song to sound just like the original is to play a

standard G chord with fingers 3, 2 & 4 and then use fingers 1 & 2 (index, middle)

to tap on and off fret 1 on the B and fret 2 on the G string to finger a D7sus4,

then hammer fret 2 on the D string (verses only, not the chorus).

Listen to the song to get the feel for the strum and the tap on/off timing.

G 32000(3)

D7sus4 xx021(3)

[Intro]

G G G G

| | | | |

G G G G

| | | |

[Verse 1]

G G

I've been long, a long way from here

Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes,

G C

And drank 'til I was thirsty again

G G

We went searching through thrift store jungles

Found Geronimo's rifle, Marilyn's shampoo

G C

And Benny Goodman's corset and pen

[Pre-Chorus 1]

C D C D

Well, okay, I made this up… I promised you I'd never give up

[Chorus]

Am C G D

N.C.

If it makes you happy it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad

Am C G

If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?

[Verse 2]

G G

You get down, real low down

You listen to Coltrane, derail your own train

G C

Well, who hasn't been there before?

G G

I come round, around the hard way

Bring you comics in bed; scrape the mold off the bread,

G C

And serve you French toast again

[Pre-Chorus 2]

C D C D

Well, okay, I still get stoned… I'm not the kind of girl you'd take home

[Chorus]

Am C G D

N.C.

If it makes you happy it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad

Am C G

If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?

Am C G D

If it makes you happy it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad

Am C Em

If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?

[Bridge]

Em Em Am Am

|() | | | |

Em Em Am Am

| | | | |

G G G G

| | | |

[Verse 3]

G G

We've been far, far away from here

Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes,

G C

And everywhere in between

[Pre-Chorus 3]

C D C D

Well, okay, we get along… so what if right now everything's wrong?

[Chorus]

Am C G D

N.C.

If it makes you happy it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad

Am C G

If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?

Am C G D

If it makes you happy it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad

Am C G

If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?

[Outro]

Am C G D

| | | | |

Am C

| | |

G G G G

| | | | |

G G G

| | |

C* - this particular C chord is played similarly to the preceding G chord with

your pinky on the string 1; G note (fret 3). When changing from the preceding G

chord merely drop fingers 2 and 3 one string down.

About If It Makes You Happy Chords by Sheryl Crow

Learn how to play If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “If It Makes You Happy chords”, “If It Makes You Happy guitar chords”, or “Sheryl Crow If It Makes You Happy chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy If It Makes You Happy chords and for experienced players who want accurate If It Makes You Happy lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, B, D, C, Am, Em.

FAQ — If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow

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Yes. Tap any chord in "If It Makes You Happy" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

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What key is "If It Makes You Happy" in?

The chords for "If It Makes You Happy" show the original chord names (including G, B, D, C, Am, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.