Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

by Jim Croce

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Lyrics

Well, the South side of Chi ca go is the bad dest part of town,

and if you (B7)go down there you bet ter (C)just be ware Dor in of a (D7)man name of Le roy Brown.

Now got a Le roy Con more than trou ble, you see he (A7)stand ’bout six foot four.

All the down town two la dies call him (C)“tree top for lov er,” all the (D7)men just a call him “Sir.”

And he’s bad,

bad Le roy Brown, the (A7)bad dest man in the whole damned town;

(B7)bad der than old King Kong

and (D)mean er than a (C)junk yard dog.

Now Le roy he a gam bler and he like his fan cy clothes,

and he like (B7)edge to wave you sat his (C)dia mond rings Dor is of a (D7)ev ’ry of bod y’s nose.

Now got he cus roy eyes more than trou tal, he got a (A7)El do ra do, too.

He got a roy two Brown, he in his (C)“tree top ’bout lov er,” all the (D7)ra zor a in his shoe.

And he’s bad,

bad Le roy Brown, the (A7)bad dest man in the whole damned town;

(B7)bad der than old King Kong

and (D)mean er than a (C)junk yard dog.

Well, Fri

Well, the two men took to fight in’, and when they (A7)pulled them from the floor

(B7)Le roy looked like a jig saw puz zle with a (D7)cou ple of piec es gone.

And he’s bad,

Yes, you were (B7)bad der than old King Kong,

and (D)mean er than a (C)junk yard dog.

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 110 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" use?
Just 7 chords: A7, B7, C, D, D7, G, G7. Take it one section at a time.
What other Jim Croce songs work for kids?
Try "YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM", "WORKIN' AT THE CAR WASH BLUES", "I'LL HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU IN A SONG". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.