Nov122019

Beetlejuice The Musical – What I Know Now Piano & Ukulele Chord Progression and Tab

This is the chords of What I Know Now by Beetlejuice The Musical on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard.

[INTRO]
Em C

[VERSE]
B7 Em
I was hot
G
I went to parties a lot Y’know?
Am
I was driving Lamborghinis
Bbm
Sipping super-dry martinis
C B7
In the tiniest bikinis on a yacht

[VERSE]
Em
But I was depressed
G
Also completely obsessed
Am
An unhappy beauty queen
A#m
Who dreamed to be Miss Argentina
B7
I had such low self-esteem
I was a mess
Am
So I gave it all up for the netherworld
Em
I’ve been here forever, girl
D
If I was more clever, girl
G
I would’ve stuck it out
B7
Knowing what life’s about

[BRIDGE]
Am
Pain and joy and suffering
G
Failing but recovering
F#m
I’ll tell you another thing
Bm C
Everyone here is alone
Bm7
So if you are breathing
B7
Go home!

[CHORUS]
Em
If I knew then
B7
What I know now
Em
I would have looked within and let love in somehow
Em
If I only knew
Am Em
The truth back then
B7
I wouldn’t have had my little “accident”

[INTRO]
Em E B7

[VERSE]
B7 Em
Don’t be blind
G
You left your whole life behind
Am
See a shrink, Call a priest
Bbm
Ask the recently deceased
C B7
Death is final and you cannot press rewind
Am
Don’t jump when the light is red
Em
Toasters should be used for bread
D
Never smoke cigars in bed
G B7
Nietzsche was right, y’know, to live is to suffer, bro
Am
Don’t cheat on the one you wed
G
Never whip a thoroughbred
B7
Angry pygmys shrunk his head
B7 C
Why did it take death to see
B7
Happiness was up to me?

[CHORUS]
Em
If I knew then
B7
What I know now
I would’ve laughed and danced
Em
And lanced every sacred cow
I thought I knew
Am
But I was wrong
B7
‘Cause life is short
Em
But death is super long
I exploded!

[INSTRUMENTAL]
A#7 D#m7
G#m A#m
B7 E
B C7

[CHORUS]
Fm
If I knew then (If I knew)
C7
What I know now
C7
I would’ve crossed every line
And drank all the wine
Fm
Before my final bow
F
If I knew (If I knew)
A#m C
The things that now I know
C7
I would ride the highs and cherish the lows
Going, it’s a quick trick ’round the rodeo
C C7
So before they lower the curtain, be certain to enjoy the show
Fm
That’s what I know!
Life is short but death is long
D#
Here, one minute then it’s gone
C#
Thought I knew but I was wrong
F Fm
If I only knew what I know now!

How to play What I Know Now: key, chords and progression

What I Know Now by Beetlejuice The Musical is built around E minor (one sharp: F♯), with 21 chords in all: Em, C, B7, G, Am, Bbm, A#m, D, F#m, Bm, Bm7 and E and 9 more.

The progression the song keeps returning to is B7 – Em – G – Am (V7 – i – III – iv in E minor). Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Good to know: Bbm, A#m, F#m, Bm and Bm7 are played as barre or movable shapes on guitar. Practise the change into them slowly; on piano and ukulele the same chords are easier.