Is "Dear Mr. Man" 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 "Dear Mr. Man"?

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 "Dear Mr. Man" use?

Just 8 chords: Am9, Bm7, C#7, Dm9, E, E7, Fmaj7, G. Take it one section at a time.

What other Prince songs work for kids?

Try "CALL MY NAME", "DARLING NIKKI", "NOTHING COMPARES 2 U". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.

Super Simple Piano

Dear Mr. Man

· by Prince

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Lyrics

What’s (G)wrong

with the world to day?

(G)Things just got to get bet ter.

“Dear

Mis Sho’ Man, ain’t

what the lead ers say.

(G)May be we should write a let ter,

said, (Am9)“Dear

Mis ter Man,

(B)we don’t un der stand

(Am9)why poor peo ple keep (G)strug gl ing

but (B)you don’t lend a help ing hand.

(Am9)Mat thew 5: 5 (G)say,

‘the (B)meek shall in her it the earth.’

We (Am9)wan na be down that (G)way, but you been (B)trip pin’ since the day of (E7#5)your birth.”

Who (Am9)said

(B)that to kill is a (E7#5)sin

and (Am9)start ed ev ’ry sin gle war

(B)that your peo ple been (E7#5)in?

Who (Am9)said

that (G)wa ter is a (B)pre cious com mod i ty,

then (Am9)dropped a big ol’ (G)black oil slick (B)in the deep blue (E7#5)sea?

Who

(Am9)told

Mis ter Man

that (B)work ing ’round the (E7#5)clock

will (Am9)buy me a big house (G)in the hood with (B)cig ar ette ads on (E7#5)ev ’ry block?

Who

told me Mis ter Man

(B)that I got a right to moan?

How ’bout this (G)big ol’ hole in the (B)o zone?

(Am9)Ain’t no sense in vot ing;

same (B)song with a dif f’rent name.

(Am9)Might not be in the (G)back of the bus, but it (B)sure feels just the (E7#5)same.

Ain’t (Am9)noth in’ fair ’bout a (G)wel fare, ain’t (B)no as sist ance in (E7#5)AIDS.

(Am9)Ain’t noth in’ ’firm a tive a (G)bout your ac tions (B)’til the peo ple get (E7#5)paid.

Your (Am9)thou sand years are (G)up;

(B)now you got to share the land.

Sec tion (Am9)one, the four teenth a (G)mend ment says, “No (B)state shall de prive an y (E7#5)per son of life,

(Am9)lib er ty or pro per ty with out due pro cess of (B)law,”

Mis ter Man.

We want to end this (G)let ter with three words:

We tired o’ y’all.

What’s wrong

with the world to day?

Things just got to get bet ter.

What’s wrong

with the world to day?

Things just got to get bet ter.

Dear Mr. Man by Prince — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Dear Mr. Man” by Prince 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 A at 50 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 "Dear Mr. Man" 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 "Dear Mr. Man"?: 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 "Dear Mr. Man" use?: Just 8 chords: Am9, Bm7, C#7, Dm9, E, E7, Fmaj7, G. Take it one section at a time.
What other Prince songs work for kids?: Try "CALL MY NAME", "DARLING NIKKI", "NOTHING COMPARES 2 U". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.