If I Only Had A Brain

by Harold Arlen
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Sheet MusicBar NotationSimple SheetLead SheetKaraoke · LyricsEasy NotesFalling Notes
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 — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

6 people have learned this song

Learn "If I Only Had A Brain" 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 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.

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Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple SheetKaraoke

About “If I Only Had A Brain”

Can I play "If I Only Had A Brain" 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 "If I Only Had A Brain" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
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.
Can a complete beginner play "If I Only Had A Brain"?
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. "If I Only Had A Brain" is simplified for beginners.
Do I need to read music to play "If I Only Had A Brain"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "If I Only Had A Brain" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.