[Intro]
Cm9 Abmaj7/Bb Fmaj9
[Verse 1]
Gm7
I hardly had a bellyful
Am7 Abm7
Never knew a new bicycle
Gm7
Hand-me-down books and shoes
Gm7 Cm9 Abmaj7/Bb Fmaj9
They brought the yule tides in July
[Verse 2]
Gm7
I rode a bus, a train and sometimes
Am7 Abm7
Strolling for miles to a movie show
Gm7
Singing a song "Shoobedoo
Gm7 Cm9 Abmaj7/Bb
"While birds and rich folks flew
Fmaj9
Right on by
[Chorus]
N.C. Abmaj7/Bb Fmaj9 Abmaj7/Bb
But we got by
Cm9 Amaj7/Bb Fmaj9
Lord knows we got by
[Verse 3]
Gm7
Winter wishes wait till June
Am7
We brightened July with
Abm7 Gm7
That hot dog fun
Tell your mama you're with Sue
Cm9
You bring the beans and I'll
Abmaj7/Bb Fmaj9
Find the wine
[Verse 4]
Gm7
Them neon lights were bright
Gm7
Till 2:00
Am7
And sneaking back home with
Abm7 Gm7
This girl named Jo
I hurried down to say do"
Cm9
And stared my first man-child
Abmaj7/Bb Fmaj9
In the eye
[Chorus]
N.C. Abmaj7/Bb Fmaj9 Abmaj7/Bb
But we got by
Cm9 Amaj7/Bb Fm7
Lord knows we got by
[Verse 5]
Gbm7 Gm7 Abm7
And now baby's got his bellyful
Abm7 Bbmaj7 Am7
And finally here's that new bicycle
Abm7
Working, praying, June to June
Dbm9 Amaj7/B
And mama's got LA gleaming
Gbmaj9
In her eye
[Chorus]
N.C. Amaj7/B Gbmaj9 Amaj7/B
And we got by
Dbm9 Amaj7/B Gbmaj9
Lord knows we got by
[Outro]
Amaj7/B
You see we kept on walking
Amaj7/B
And talking, hawking
Amaj7/B
Ooing, cooing, wooing
Gbmaj9
Loving, tugging, hugging, rubbing
Gbmaj9 Abmaj7/B
Sugging, fugging, laying, praying, swaying
Abmaj7/B Gbmaj9
Letting, fretting, begetting, lying
Gbmaj9
Flying, trying, sighing, dying
Amaj7/B Gbmaj9
ad lib scat
Amaj7/B Gbmaj9
Amaj7/B Gbmaj9