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Makin A Mess

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[Verse 1]
ET-bone Billy just a singin' the blues
DCaught his lady with another man
ALit up a smoke and did some tGalkin'
With the back of his Ehand....Smack!
EShe started shakin', started losing her mind
But he was Dkicking back and playing it cool
ASigned her walkin' papers
Took the 5:15 Gto KalamazooE  
[Pre-Chorus]
ASing for your supper,
EmNobody rides for free
DEat your heart out, I'll send it BC.O.D.
[Chorus]
EOne, two baby wF#hat you Gdo
AThree, four let me show you the door
GYou're better off dead than F#makin' a Fmess of Emme
EFive, six take your laF#st liGcks
ASeven, eight let me give it to you straight
GYou're better off dead than F#makin' a Fmess of Emme
[Verse 2]
ENow Billy-boy's out havin' a ball, playiDn' fiddle at the local bar
ADark shades, cool kicks, he's GHollywood BlvEd.
ESlick Daddy and his fat cigar sayin':
D"Sign along the dotted line!"
AHe shook his head and said:
G"All I need is this fiddle of mine!E"
[Pre-Chorus]
ASing for your supper,
EmNobody rides for free
DTake your big time, I’ll take care of m-m-m-mBe!
[Chorus]
EOne, two baby wF#hat you Gdo
AThree, four let me show you the door
GYou're better off dead than F#makin' a Fmess of Emme
EFive, six take your laF#st liGcks
ASeven, eight let me give it to you straight
GYou're better off dead than F#makin' a Fmess of Emme
GWhen trouble came knockin'
DBilly kept rockin' like thiEs…
[Pre-Chorus]
ASing for your supper,
EmNobody rides for free
DTake your big time, I’ll take care of m-m-m-mBe!
[Chorus]
EOne, two baby wF#hat you Gdo
AThree, four let me show you the door
GYou're better off dead than F#makin' a Fmess of Emme
EFive, six take your laF#st liGcks
ASeven, eight let me give it to you straight
GYou're better off dead than F#makin' a Fmess of Emme

All chords in this song (8)

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Makin A Mess

by Skid Row

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

T-bone Billy just a singin' the blues

Caught his lady with another man

A G

Lit up a smoke and did some talkin'

With the back of his hand....Smack!

She started shakin', started losing her mind

But he was kicking back and playing it cool

Signed her walkin' papers

G E

Took the 5:15 to Kalamazoo

[Pre-Chorus]

Sing for your supper,

Nobody rides for free

D B

Eat your heart out, I'll send it C.O.D.

[Chorus]

E F# G

One, two baby what you do

Three, four let me show you the door

G F# F Em

You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me

E F# G

Five, six take your last licks

Seven, eight let me give it to you straight

G F# F Em

You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me

[Verse 2]

E D

Now Billy-boy's out havin' a ball, playin' fiddle at the local bar

A G E

Dark shades, cool kicks, he's Hollywood Blvd.

Slick Daddy and his fat cigar sayin':

"Sign along the dotted line!"

He shook his head and said:

G E

"All I need is this fiddle of mine!"

[Pre-Chorus]

Sing for your supper,

Nobody rides for free

D B

Take your big time, I’ll take care of m-m-m-me!

[Chorus]

E F# G

One, two baby what you do

Three, four let me show you the door

G F# F Em

You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me

E F# G

Five, six take your last licks

Seven, eight let me give it to you straight

G F# F Em

You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me

When trouble came knockin'

D E

Billy kept rockin' like this…

[Pre-Chorus]

Sing for your supper,

Nobody rides for free

D B

Take your big time, I’ll take care of m-m-m-me!

[Chorus]

E F# G

One, two baby what you do

Three, four let me show you the door

G F# F Em

You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me

E F# G

Five, six take your last licks

Seven, eight let me give it to you straight

G F# F Em

You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me

About Makin A Mess Chords by Skid Row

Learn how to play Makin A Mess by Skid Row with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Makin A Mess chords”, “Makin A Mess guitar chords”, or “Skid Row Makin A Mess 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 Makin A Mess chords and for experienced players who want accurate Makin A Mess lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, D, A, G, Em, B.

FAQ — Makin A Mess by Skid Row

How do I play "Makin A Mess" by Skid Row on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Makin A Mess" by Skid Row on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Makin A Mess" by Skid Row free?

Yes. The chords for "Makin A Mess" by Skid Row are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Makin A Mess" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Makin A Mess" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Makin A Mess"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Makin A Mess" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Makin A Mess" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Makin A Mess" by Skid Row with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Skid Row below.

What key is "Makin A Mess" in?

The chords for "Makin A Mess" show the original chord names (including E, D, A, G, Em, B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.