Allentown

by Billy Joel
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Lyrics

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 — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

11 people have learned this song

Watch "Allentown" by Billy Joel in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. 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.

About “Allentown”

Can I learn "Allentown" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "Allentown" with hands-separate practice in G at 110 BPM.
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.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Allentown"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "Allentown" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "Allentown"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "Allentown" is in the key of G at 110 BPM.