Middle Of The Road

by The Pretenders

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Lyrics

Ooh,

ooh,

ooh,

ooh.

(C)The mid dle of the road

(C5)is tryin’ to (A)find me.

I’m (A)stand in’ in the (G5)mid dle of life with my (C5)plans be hind me.

(C5)I got a smile

for ev ’ry (C5)one I meet.

As (A)long as you don’t try (D)drag gin’ my bay or (A)drop pin’ the bomb (G5)on my street.

Now, (C5)come on, ba by,

well, get in the road.

Oh, come on now,

in (E)the mid dle of the road, yeah.

Ooh,

ooh.

In the (C)mid dle of the road

you see the (C5)darn dest things,

like (A)fat guys driv ing (G)’round in jeeps through the cit (C)y, wear in’ (A)big dia mond rings and silk (D)suits, past (A)cor ru gat ed (G)tin shacks (D)full up with kids.

Oh, man, I (A)don’t mean a (G)Hamp stead (D)nurs er y.

When you (A)own a big (G)chunk of the (D)blood y Third World, the (A)ba bies just come (G)with the sce ner (D)y.

Oh, (C)come on, ba by,

mmm, get in the road.

Oh, come on, now,

in (E)the mid dle of the road, yeah.

(A)One

(A)two

(A)three

(A)four

Ooh,

ooh,

Ooh,

ooh,

The (C)mid dle of the road

is no pri vate cul de (A)sac.

I can’t get from the (D7)cab to the curb with out (A)some lit tle (G)jerk on my back.

(A)Don’t har ass me, (G)can’t you tell I’m (D7)go in’ home, I’m (C)tired as hell.

I’m (A)not the cat I (G)used to be; I (D7)got a kid, I’m (C)thir ty three.

Ba by,

well, get in the road.

Come on, now,

in (E)the mid dle of the road, yeah.

Middle Of The Road by The Pretenders — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Middle Of The Road by The Pretenders 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 C at 168 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 "Middle Of The Road" 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 "Middle Of The Road"?
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 "Middle Of The Road" use?
Just 9 chords: A, C, Cpow, D, D7, Dsus4, E, G, +1 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other The Pretenders songs work for kids?
Try "I'LL STAND BY YOU", "BRASS IN POCKET", "TALK OF THE TOWN". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.