Ball And Chain

by Janis Joplin
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How to Play This Song

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

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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 — Visual Piano Sheet Music

9 people have learned this song

"Ball And Chain" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of D, 90 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Ball And Chain”

Why does "Ball And Chain" show as colored bars instead of notation?
Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Ball And Chain".
What key is "Ball And Chain" by Janis Joplin played in?
Ball And Chain 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 "Ball And Chain"?
The arrangement plays at 90 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Ball And Chain" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Ball And Chain"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Ball And Chain"?
"Ball And Chain" was originally performed by Janis Joplin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Ball And Chain"?
This arrangement uses 5 chords: A7, C, D, D7, G7.
What other songs by Janis Joplin can I play here?
Try "ME AND BOBBY McGEE", "LITTLE GIRL BLUE", "PIECE OF MY HEART". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this real sheet music for "Ball And Chain"?
It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Ball And Chain".
Can I see all the notes in "Ball And Chain"?
Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of D at 90 BPM.