Busy Doing Nothing

by Johnny Burke
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Lyrics

We’re (G)bu sy (Gaug)do in’ (G6)no (G7)thing, (Am7)work ing the (Eb)whole day (D#dim7)through, (Em)try (D)ing (Am)to (G)find (Am)lots (D)of (Em)things (D)not (Am)to (G)do.

(D7)We’re (G)bu sy (Gaug)go ing (G6)no (G7)where, (Am7)is n’t it (Eb7)just a (D7)crime?

We’d (Em)like to (C)be un (G)hap py, (Em)but we (Am7)nev er do (D7)have the (G)time.

I (Em7)have to (A7)watch the (D)ri (Bm7)ver to (Em7)see that it (A7)does n’t (D)stop, and (Em7)stick a (A7)round the (D)rose (Bm7)buds, so (Em7)they’ll know (A7)when to pop, and (G)keep the (Em7)cric kets (Am7)cheer (D7)ful, they’re (Am7)real ly a (D7)sol (D#dim)emn (G7)bunch.

(C)Hus (C6)tle!

(G)Bus (Em)tle!

And (Am7)on ly an (D7)hour for (G)lunch!

(D7)We’re (G)bu sy (Gaug)do in’ (G6)no (G7)thing, (Am7)work ing the (Eb)whole day (D#dim7)through,

(Em)try (D)ing (Am)to (G)find (Am)lots (D)of (Em)things (D)not (Am)to (G)do.

(D7)We’re (G)bu sy (Gaug)go ing (G6)no (G7)where, (Am7)is n’t it (Eb7)just a (D7)crime?

We’d (Em)like to (C)be un (G)hap py, (Em)but we (Am7)nev er do (D7)have the

(A7)wake (D)sun (Bm7)up, he’s (Em7)lia ble to (A7)sleep all (D)day,

(Em7)then in (A7)spect (D)rain (Bm7)bows, be (A7)bright and gay,

(G)must re (Em7)hearse the (Am7)song (D7)birds, to (Am7)see that they (D7)sing (D#dim)in (G7)key.

(Am7)nev er a (D7)mo ment (G)free!

(G)rest!

(D7)We’re (Em)bet ter (C)make it (G)snap py, (Em)there’s an (C)oth er (B7)hill to (Em)climb.

We’d (C)like to be un (G)hap py, (Em)but we (Am7)nev er do (D7)have the (G)time.

Busy Doing Nothing — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

8 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Busy Doing Nothing" by Johnny Burke: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of D, 150 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (D) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “Busy Doing Nothing”

Can I sing "Busy Doing Nothing" karaoke-style with the lyrics on screen?
Yes — Karaoke mode puts the lyrics of "Busy Doing Nothing" on screen a line at a time and lights up each word in time, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word and the chord shown just above. The piano backing plays underneath in D, and you can transpose it to fit your voice.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "Busy Doing Nothing" by Johnny Burke in?
The backing track is in D at 150 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "Busy Doing Nothing" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "Busy Doing Nothing"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Busy Doing Nothing", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "Busy Doing Nothing" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "Busy Doing Nothing"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "Busy Doing Nothing"?
"Busy Doing Nothing" was originally performed by Johnny Burke. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
Is there a karaoke version of "Busy Doing Nothing" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Busy Doing Nothing" by Johnny Burke. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Busy Doing Nothing" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in D, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Busy Doing Nothing" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.

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