Nov62021

Gerry Rafferty – Keep It To Yourself Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsDm G Bb C

KeyKeyCapo

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[Verse 1]
Dm
I walk along the street
    G
and wonder what to do
            Bb
I'd like to ease the pain
in my troubled brain
          Dm
But as to how,
I haven't a clue
Dm
Should I shout at the
people who pass me by
G
Hey folks look at me,
I'm no ordinary guy
Bb
I had a love and
she swore she was mine
    Dm
But she only loved me when
the weather was fine.

[Chorus]
Dm C                     Bb
My mind tells me what to do
Keep it to yourself,
             Dm   C
tell nobody else
                       Bb
Just how you loved her so,
they don't want to know
              Dm
Keep it to yourself.

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[Verse 2]
Dm
On a subway train,
I hide from the rain
           G
And take a seat right
next to the door
        Bb
There's a man with a case
and as I look at his face
  Dm
I'm sure I've seen
him someplace before
Dm
He looks up and I look down
             G
And then we both look away
     Bb
The train slows down and
my head spins ‘round
           Dm
It's like scene from
a one-act play.

[Chorus]
Dm C                     Bb
My mind tells me what to do
Keep it to yourself,
             Dm   C
tell nobody else
                       Bb
Just how you loved her so,
they don't want to know
              Dm
Keep it to yourself.

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Verse 3]
Dm
I feel much better when the
 G
sun has lost its glow
          Bb
When the light of day
is fading away
               dm
And there are shadows
wherever I go
Dm
Yes the light is fading
and I'm masquerading
     G
As a poet with something to say
        Bb
The inspiration's gone
and I can't turn it on
               Dm
It's been the same since
she went away.

[Chorus]
Dm C                     Bb
My mind tells me what to do
Keep it to yourself,
             Dm   C
tell nobody else
                       Bb
Just how you loved her so,
they don't want to know
              Dm
Keep it to yourself.

How to play Keep It To Yourself: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Keep It To Yourself by Gerry Rafferty on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Keep It To Yourself by Gerry Rafferty is built around D minor (one flat: B♭), with 4 chords in all: Dm, G, Bb and C.

Listen for Dm – G – Bb – Dm (i – IV – VI – i in D minor): the song comes back to it again and again. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

Good to know: Bb is played as barre or movable shapes on guitar. Practise the change into it slowly; on piano and ukulele the same chords are easier.