An Innocent Man

by Billy Joel
Loading song
Fetching song
1
—
How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

Start the lesson
Personalize the finger hints for your handsPick your hand size and we'll re-suggest this song's fingering to fit you.Personalize
More ways to play

Other arrangements of An Innocent Man

Pick a learning view.

Lyrics

Some peo ple stay far a way from the door if there’s a (Em)chance of it o pen ing up,

they hear a voice in the hall ber too well and hope some that it just pass es by.

Some peo ple live with the fear of a touch, and the an (Em)tak ger of hav ing been a fool,

they will not lis ten to an y one so no bod y tells them a lie.

I know you’re on ly pro tect ing your self,

I know you’re think ing of some (G)turn bod y else.

(CN.C.)Some one who hurt you, but I’m not a bove mak ing up for the love you’ve been de (Em)ny ing you could ev er feel, love,

I’m not a bove do ing an y a thing to re store your me faith if I can.

Some peo ple see through the eyes of the old be fore they (Em)ev er get a look at the young.

I’m on ly will ing to hear you can cry be cause I am an in no cent (D)man.

(D)I (G)am

an in no cent (C)man,

oh yes I am.

Some peo ple say they will nev er be lieve an oth er (Em)prom ise they hear in the dark,

be cause they on ly re mem ber too well they heard some bod y tell them be fore.

Some peo ple sleep all a lone ev ’ry night in stead of (Em)tak ing a lov ing er to bed,

some peo ple find that it’s eas i er to hate than to wait an y more.

I know you don’t want to hear what I say,

I know you’re gon na keep some (G)turn ing a way.

(CN.C.)But I’ve been there, and if I can sur vive I can keep you a live, I’m not a (Em)bove go ing through it a gain, love,

I’m not a bove be ing cool for the while, if you’re cruel to the I’ll un der stand.

Some peo ple run from a pos si ble fight, some peo ple (Em)fig ure they can nev as er win.

And al though this is a fight I and lose, the ac cused is an in no cent (D)man.

(D)I (G)am

an in no cent (C)man,

oh yes I am.

An in (A)no cent man.

You know you on ly hurt your (D)self out of spite,

I guess you’d rath er be a (G)mar tyr to night.

That’s your de ci sion, but I’m

An in (A)no cent man,

(G)oh.

An Innocent Man — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

4 people have learned this song

Learn "An Innocent Man" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of D, 92 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “An Innocent Man”

Can I play "An Innocent Man" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "An Innocent Man" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "An Innocent Man" by Billy Joel played in?
An Innocent Man is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "An Innocent Man"?
The arrangement plays at 92 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "An Innocent Man" 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 "An Innocent Man"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "An Innocent Man"?
"An Innocent Man" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "An Innocent Man"?
This arrangement uses 6 chords: A, Am7, C, D, Em, G.
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 a complete beginner play "An Innocent Man"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "An Innocent Man" is simplified for beginners.
Do I need to read music to play "An Innocent Man"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "An Innocent Man" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.