If I Only Had A Brain

by Harold Arlen
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Lyrics

I could (F)wile a way the hours tle, when con (Gm)fer rin’ with the flow ers, con (F)sult in’ with the rain.

And my (Gm)head I’d be scratch in’ while my (C7)thoughts were bu sy hatch in’, if I (F)on ly had a brain.

I’d un rav el ev ’ry rid dle for (Gm)an y in di vid dle in (F)trou ble or in pain.

With the (Gm)thoughts I’d be think in’, I could (C7)be an oth er Lin coln, if I (F)on ly had a brain.

Oh, ture (Bb)I

could tell you (Am)why

(D7)the (Gm)o cean’s (Cm)near the (Fmaj7)shore.

I could (Em)think of things I (A7)nev er thunk be (Dm)fore,

and then I’d (G)sit

and think some (C7)more.

I would (F)not be just a nuff in’, my (Gm)head all full of stuff in’, my (F)heart all full of pain.

And per (Gm)haps I’d de serve you and be (C7)e ven wor thy erv you, if I (F)on ly had a brain.

When a (F)man’s an emp ty ket sy, when he (Gm)should be on his met tle, and (F)yet I’m torn a part.

Just be (Gm)cause I’m pre sum in’ that I (C7)could be kind a hu man, if I (F)on ly had a heart.

I’d be ten der, I’d be gen tle and (Gm)aw ful sen ti men tal re (F)gard ing love and art.

I’d be (Gm)friends with the spar rows and the (C7)boy that shoots the ar rows, if I (F)on ly had a heart.

Oh, ture (Bb)me

a bal co (Am)ny.

(D7)A (Gm)bove a (Cm)voice sings (Fmaj7)low,

“Where fore (Em)art the thou, I (A7)Ro er me be (Dm)o.”

I hear a (G)beat.

and How some (C7)sweet!

Just to (F)reg is ter e mo tion, who’s (Gm)jeal ous y, de vo tion, and (F)real ly feel the part.

I would (Gm)stay young and chip per and I’d (C7)lock it with a zip per, if I (F)on ly had a heart.

Life is

If I Only Had A Brain — Visual Piano Sheet Music

6 people have learned this song

"If I Only Had A Brain" 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 Bb, 112 BPM.

Tip: Break this song into sections and master each one separately. The speed control lets you drill difficult passages at any tempo.

About “If I Only Had A Brain”

Why does "If I Only Had A Brain" 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 "If I Only Had A Brain".
What key is "If I Only Had A Brain" by Harold Arlen played in?
If I Only Had A Brain is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "If I Only Had A Brain"?
The arrangement plays at 112 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "If I Only Had A Brain" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "If I Only Had A Brain"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "If I Only Had A Brain"?
"If I Only Had A Brain" was originally performed by Harold Arlen. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Harold Arlen can I play here?
Try "OVER THE RAINBOW", "Over The Rainbow", "A Sleepin' Bee". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this real sheet music for "If I Only Had A Brain"?
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 "If I Only Had A Brain".
Can I see all the notes in "If I Only Had A Brain"?
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 Bb at 112 BPM.