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Crocodile Tears

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Emajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse 1]
I saEw you last night with that felAla
the Eup-to-date version of C#mme
He was smEug as a lottery wAinner
You were wEarm as a reBptile can bEe
What a chEange from the last time I Asaw you
With those tEears running down if you pC#mlease
From sEad to happy so quAickly
That's one hEundred and eBighty degrEees
[Chorus]
But crAocodiles do it much bEetter
they're mAuch more humane and forgBiving
Their vEictims are dF#mead
in a mE/G#inute it's sAaid
While yEours have to cBarry on lEiving
And those crAocodile tears you've been shEedding
Some dAay they might come back to hBaunt you
Oh, I bEet you one F#mday
you'll be sE/G#obbing awAay
'cause you hEave to
and nBot 'cause you wEant to
E   F#m   E/G#    A  E B E
[Verse 2]
And the nEight that you said it was oAver
I got a hEistory lesson for fC#mree
I thoEught it was you did the lAying and cheating
It tuErns out it muBst have been Eme
When tEhe tears started flowing that clAinched it
I knEew you'd be running aC#mway
to the aErms of your new love -
poor deAvil, he gets  you
for twEenty four hBours a dEay
[Chorus]
But crAocodiles do it much bEetter
they're mAuch more humane and forgBiving
Their vEictims are dF#mead
in a mE/G#inute it's sAaid
While yEours have to cBarry on lEiving
And those crAocodile tears you've been shEedding
Some dAay they might come back to hBaunt you
Oh, I bEet you one F#mday
you'll be sE/G#obbing awaAy
'cause you hEave to
and nBot 'cause you wEant to
E  F#m  E/G#   A  E B E
[Verse 3]
Well I hEope he lives up to your stAandards
StEandards I could never C#mkeep
I was Ealways to quick on the trAigger, you said
not to mEention to duBmb and to chEeap
And I seEe all your petty reveAnges
The drEama goes on, does it C#mever
But that pEicture of us, in the nAude, on the bus
To pEut it on FBacebook was clEever
[Chorus]
But crAocodiles do it much bEetter
they're mAuch more humane and forgBiving
Their vEictims are dF#mead
in a mE/G#inute it's sAaid
While yEours have to cBarry on lEiving
And those cArocodile tears you've been sEhedding
Some dAay they might come back to hBaunt you
Oh, I bEet you one dF#may
you'll be sE/G#obbing awaAy
'cause you hEave to
and nBot 'cause you wEant to
Oh, I bEet you one dF#may
you'll be sE/G#obbing awaAy
'cause you hEave to
and nBot 'cause you C#mwant toE  
-----
Final four lines from an older version (as seen on several YouTube videos):
But wEatching you acting the vAictim
Is like wEatching the news on C#mtv
You cEan't stand to see
all the blAood and the gore
yet you caEn't take your eByes off the scrEeen

All chords in this song (6)

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Crocodile Tears

by Richard Thompson

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C#m

F#m

E/G#

[Verse 1]

E A

I saw you last night with that fella

E C#m

the up-to-date version of me

E A

He was smug as a lottery winner

E B E

You were warm as a reptile can be

E A

What a change from the last time I saw you

E C#m

With those tears running down if you please

E A

From sad to happy so quickly

E B E

That's one hundred and eighty degrees

[Chorus]

A E

But crocodiles do it much better

A B

they're much more humane and forgiving

E F#m

Their victims are dead

E/G# A

in a minute it's said

E B E

While yours have to carry on living

A E

And those crocodile tears you've been shedding

A B

Some day they might come back to haunt you

E F#m

Oh, I bet you one day

E/G# A

you'll be sobbing away

'cause you have to

B E

and not 'cause you want to

E F#m E/G# A E B E

[Verse 2]

E A

And the night that you said it was over

E C#m

I got a history lesson for free

E A

I thought it was you did the lying and cheating

E B E

It turns out it must have been me

E A

When the tears started flowing that clinched it

E C#m

I knew you'd be running away

to the arms of your new love -

poor devil, he gets you

E B E

for twenty four hours a day

[Chorus]

A E

But crocodiles do it much better

A B

they're much more humane and forgiving

E F#m

Their victims are dead

E/G# A

in a minute it's said

E B E

While yours have to carry on living

A E

And those crocodile tears you've been shedding

A B

Some day they might come back to haunt you

E F#m

Oh, I bet you one day

E/G# A

you'll be sobbing away

'cause you have to

B E

and not 'cause you want to

E F#m E/G# A E B E

[Verse 3]

E A

Well I hope he lives up to your standards

E C#m

Standards I could never keep

E A

I was always to quick on the trigger, you said

E B E

not to mention to dumb and to cheap

E A

And I see all your petty revenges

E C#m

The drama goes on, does it ever

E A

But that picture of us, in the nude, on the bus

E B E

To put it on Facebook was clever

[Chorus]

A E

But crocodiles do it much better

A B

they're much more humane and forgiving

E F#m

Their victims are dead

E/G# A

in a minute it's said

E B E

While yours have to carry on living

A E

And those crocodile tears you've been shedding

A B

Some day they might come back to haunt you

E F#m

Oh, I bet you one day

E/G# A

you'll be sobbing away

'cause you have to

B E

and not 'cause you want to

E F#m

Oh, I bet you one day

E/G# A

you'll be sobbing away

'cause you have to

B C#m E

and not 'cause you want to

-----

Final four lines from an older version (as seen on several YouTube videos):

E A

But watching you acting the victim

E C#m

Is like watching the news on tv

You can't stand to see

all the blood and the gore

E B E

yet you can't take your eyes off the screen

About Crocodile Tears Chords by Richard Thompson

Learn how to play Crocodile Tears by Richard Thompson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Crocodile Tears chords”, “Crocodile Tears guitar chords”, or “Richard Thompson Crocodile Tears 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 Crocodile Tears chords and for experienced players who want accurate Crocodile Tears lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, A, C#m, B, F#m, E/G#.

FAQ — Crocodile Tears by Richard Thompson

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What key is "Crocodile Tears" in?

The chords for "Crocodile Tears" show the original chord names (including E, A, C#m, B, F#m, E/G#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.