Ball And Chain

by Janis Joplin
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Lyrics

Sit tin’ by my win dow,

and I was look in’ out (D7)at the rain.

I said, Sit tin’ by my win dow, ba by,

and I was sit tin’ there look in’ out at the rain.

You know you some thin’ struck me,

clamped on to me just (D7)like a...

just like a ball mis and chain.

I said, oh, oh, by my ba by,

why you wan na do these (D7)ol’ mean things?

I said, Sit oh, by my oh, dow, ba by,

why you wan na do these ol’ mean things at to me?

Be cause you know I love you,

and I’m so sick and (D7)tired a...

of liv in’ in mis er y.

I said, (A7)I said that love’s gon na last with you for ev er,

it’s gon na last.

I said it’s gon na last,

oh, great God Al might y,

for all e ter ni ty,

(G7)Whoa, (D7)yeah.

Ball And Chain by Janis Joplin

9 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of D at 90 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

Learn how to accompany it· the chords and what each hand plays, on Super Simple Chords ↗

About “Ball And Chain”

What key is "Ball And Chain" in?
"Ball And Chain" by Janis Joplin is in the key of D with a tempo of 90 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
Is "Ball And Chain" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
Can I play "Ball And Chain" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
What chords are used in "Ball And Chain"?
This arrangement of "Ball And Chain" uses 5 chords: A7, C, D, D7, G7.
How long does it take to learn "Ball And Chain" on piano?
1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
What other songs by Janis Joplin can I play here?
Try "ME AND BOBBY McGEE", "LITTLE GIRL BLUE", "PIECE OF MY HEART". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.