Other arrangements of Allentown
Pick a learning view.
Well, we’re (Em7)liv ing here in (A)Al len town,
and they’re (Am7)clos ing all the (D)fac to ries down.
Out in (Em7)Beth le hem they’re (A)kill ing time,
(F#m)fill ing out forms,
(D)stand ing in line.
Well, the (Em7)fa thers fought the (A)Sec ond World War,
spent their (Am7)week ends on the (D)Jer sey shore, all.
met our (Em7)moth ers in the (A)U S O,
(F#m)asked them to dance, and danced with them slow.
And we’re (Em7)liv ing here in (A)Al len town,
but the (F)rest less ness was (G)hand ed the down
and it’s (Am7)get ting ver y (D)hard to stay.
Well, we’re (Em7)wait ing here in (A)Al len town
for the (Am7)Penn syl va nia (D)we nev er found,
for the (Em7)prom is es our (A)teach ers gave
(F#m)if we worked hard,
(D)if we be haved.
So the (Em7)grad u a tions (A)hang on the wall,
but they (Am7)nev er real ly (D)helped us at all.
No they (Em7)nev er taught us (A)what was real,
(F#m)i ron and coke, and chro mi um steel.
And we’re (Em7)wait ing here in (A)Al len town,
but they’ve (F)tak en all the (G)coal from the ground
and the (Am7)un ion peo ple (D)crawled a way.
Ev ’ry child (G)had a pret (F)ty good shot
to get at least (G)as far as their (Bb)old man got,
(F)but some thing hap pened on (G)the way (F)to that place.
They threw an A (G)mer i can flag (C)in our face.
Well, I’m (Em7)liv ing here in (A)Al len town
and it’s (F)hard to keep a (G)good man down,
but I (Am7)won’t be get ting (D)up to day.
And it’s (C)get ting ver y (Em)hard to (Em)stay,
and we’re liv ing here in (D)Al len town.
Allentown — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
11 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Allentown" by Billy Joel: 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 G, 110 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Try other practice modes:
About “Allentown”
- What key is "Allentown" by Billy Joel played in?
- Allentown is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Allentown"?
- The arrangement plays at 110 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Allentown" easy to play on piano?
- This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
- Can I download sheet music for "Allentown"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Allentown"?
- "Allentown" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Allentown"?
- This arrangement uses 12 chords: A, Am7, Asus4, Bb, Bm, C, D, Em, +4 more.
- What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
- Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Allentown" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Allentown" by Billy Joel. 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 "Allentown" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in G, 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 "Allentown" 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.