It Keeps You Runnin'

by Michael McDonald
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Lyrics

Say, (Bb7)where you gon na go?

(Ab)Girl, where you gon na hide?

You go on (Bb7)leav in’ out your heart

and (Ab)all it’s say in’ deep in side.

From here I can feel your (Bb)heart beat.

Oh, you got (C7)me all wrong.

Why you You ain’t got no (Bb)wor ry,

you just been lone (Am)ly too long.

I know what it (A9)means to hide your heart

from a (A7)long time a go,

oh, dar lin’.

It keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’.

It keeps you run (Em)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Em)nin’.

It keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’.

It keeps you run (Em)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Em)nin’.

Oh, (Bb7)you know how I feel.

(Ab)Hey, you know I been there.

But what you’re (Bb7)keep in’ to your self,

and (Ab)oh, you know it just ain’t fair.

From here Are you gon na (Bb)wor ry

for the rest (C7)of your life?

Why you in ain’t such a (Bb)hur ry

to be been lone (Am)ly one more

I know what it (A9)means to hide your heart

from a (A7)long time a go,

oh, dar lin’.

It keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’.

It keeps you run (Em)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Em)nin’.

It keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Cmaj7)nin’.

It keeps you run (Em)nin’, (D)yeah, it keeps you run (Em)nin’.

run (Em)nin’.

It Keeps You Runnin' — Classic Piano Sheet Music

4 people have learned this song

Read "It Keeps You Runnin'" by Michael McDonald in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of G. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 136 BPM.

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

About “It Keeps You Runnin'

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "It Keeps You Runnin'"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature G. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "It Keeps You Runnin'" by Michael McDonald played in?
It Keeps You Runnin' is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "It Keeps You Runnin'"?
The arrangement plays at 136 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "It Keeps You Runnin'" 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 "It Keeps You Runnin'"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "It Keeps You Runnin'"?
"It Keeps You Runnin'" was originally performed by Michael McDonald. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "It Keeps You Runnin'"?
This arrangement uses 18 chords: A7, A9, Ab7, Am, Amin, B7, Bb, Bb7, +10 more.
What other songs by Michael McDonald can I play here?
Try "REFLECTIONS", "I BELIEVE", "FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "It Keeps You Runnin'" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature G, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 136 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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