Martha

by Tom Waits
Loading sheet music
Building your awesome sheet music
1

Other arrangements of Martha

Pick a learning view.

Lyrics

(Eb)Op er (Bb7)a tor, (Eb)num ber (Bb7)please, it’s (Cm)been so (Bb)man y (Ab)years.

(Eb)She’ll re (Bb7)mem ber (Eb)my old (Bb7)voice (Cm)while I (Bb)fight the (Ab)tears.

Hel (Eb)lo, hel (C7)lo there.

(Fm)Is this (Bb7)Mar tha?

(Eb)This is (C7)ol’ Tom (Fm)Frost.

(Eb)I am (C7)call ing (Fm)long dis tance, don’t (Cm)wor ry (Bb)’bout the (Ab)cost.

(Eb)It’s been (C7)for ty (Fm)years or (Bb7)more now; (Eb)Mar tha, (C7)please re (Fm)call,

and (Eb)meet me (C7)out for (Fm)cof fee (Bb)where we’ll (Cm)talk a (Bb)bout it (Ab)all.

And

(Eb)those were days of (Ab)ros es, of (Eb)po et ry and (Ab)prose; and Mar tha, (Cm)all I (Cm7)had was (Ab)you and all you (Fm7)had was me.

(Eb)There was no to (Ab)mor row, we (Eb)packed a way our (Ab)sor rows and we saved them (Cm)for a (Ab)rain y day.

(Eb)I feel (Bb7)so much (Eb)old er (Bb7)now, (Cm)you’re much (Bb)old er (Ab)too.

(Eb)How’s the (Bb7)hus band, (Eb)how’s the (Bb7)kids?

You know that (Cm)I got (Bb)mar ried (Ab)too.

(Eb)Luck y (C7)that you (Fm)found some (Bb7)one who (Eb)makes you (C7)feel se (Fm)cure.

(Eb)We were (C7)all so (Fm)young and (Bb7)fool ish, (Cm)now we (Bb)are ma (Ab)ture.

And

(Eb)those were days of (Ab)ros es, of (Eb)po et ry and (Ab)prose; and Mar tha, (Cm)all I (Cm7)had was (Ab)you and all you (Fm7)had was me.

(Eb)There was no to (Ab)mor row, we (Eb)packed a way our (Ab)sor rows and we saved them (Cm)for a (Ab)rain y day.

was (Bb7)al ways (Eb)so im (Bb7)pul sive, (Cm)guess that (Bb)I still (Ab)am.

(Eb)All that (Bb7)real ly (Eb)mat tered (Bb7)then was (Cm)that I (Bb)was a (Ab)man.

(Eb)Guess that (C7)our (Fm)bein’ to (Bb7)geth er (Eb)was n’t (C7)mean to (Fm)be.

(Eb)Mar tha, (Fm)Mar tha, I (Cm)love you, (Bb)can’t you (Ab)see.

(Eb)I re (Bb7)mem ber (Eb)qui et (Bb7)ev ’nings (Cm)trem bling (Bb)close to (Ab)you.

Martha — Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

4 people have learned this song

Classic piano notation for "Martha" by Tom Waits as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in Ab — sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 80 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Ab) 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 “Martha

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "Martha" suitable for a pianist?
Yes — both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key Ab, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "Martha" by Tom Waits in?
The backing track is in Ab at 80 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 "Martha" 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 "Martha"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Martha", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "Martha" 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 "Martha"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "Martha"?
"Martha" was originally performed by Tom Waits. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Tom Waits are available?
Other accompaniments by Tom Waits: "Jersey Girl", "(Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night", "The Briar And The Rose". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode — both hands, classic piano notation, key of Ab, real chord symbols — but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "Martha" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes — treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

More songs you might like