Other arrangements of Cruel To Be Kind
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Oh, I can’t take an oth er heart ache.
Though you (F)say you’re my friend, and I’m at my wits’ end.
You say your love is bo na fide, but that don’t co in cide down with the things that you do.
And when I ask you to be nice,
you say, “You got ta be (F)cruel to be (G)kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
Well, I do my best to un der stand, dear, but you (F)still mys ti fy, and I wan na know why.
I pick my self up off the ground to have you knock me back down with a gain and a gain.
And when I ask you to ex plain,
you say, “You got ta be (F)cruel to be (G)kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
Well, I do
Well, I (C)do my best to un der stand, dear, but you (F)still mys ti fy, and I wan na know why.
I pick my self up off the ground to have you knock me (Em)back down a gain and a gain.
And when I ask you to ex plain,
you say, “You got ta be (G)cruel to kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
(G)cruel to kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
Cruel To Be Kind — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
6 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe: 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 C, 132 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 “Cruel To Be Kind”
- What key is "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe played in?
- Cruel To Be Kind is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- The arrangement plays at 132 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Cruel To Be Kind" 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 "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- "Cruel To Be Kind" was originally performed by Nick Lowe. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- This arrangement uses 10 chords: A, A7, Am, C, Dm, Dm7, Em, F, +2 more.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Cruel To Be Kind" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe. 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 "Cruel To Be Kind" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in C, 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 "Cruel To Be Kind" 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.