Middle Of The Road

by The Pretenders
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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

Ooh,

ooh,

ooh,

ooh.

(C)The mid dle of the road

(C5)is tryin’ to (A)find me.

I’m (A)stand in’ in the (G5)mid dle of life with my (C5)plans be hind me.

(C5)I got a smile

for ev ’ry (C5)one I meet.

As (A)long as you don’t try (D)drag gin’ my bay or (A)drop pin’ the bomb (G5)on my street.

Now, (C5)come on, ba by,

well, get in the road.

Oh, come on now,

in (E)the mid dle of the road, yeah.

Ooh,

ooh.

In the (C)mid dle of the road

you see the (C5)darn dest things,

like (A)fat guys driv ing (G)’round in jeeps through the cit (C)y, wear in’ (A)big dia mond rings and silk (D)suits, past (A)cor ru gat ed (G)tin shacks (D)full up with kids.

Oh, man, I (A)don’t mean a (G)Hamp stead (D)nurs er y.

When you (A)own a big (G)chunk of the (D)blood y Third World, the (A)ba bies just come (G)with the sce ner (D)y.

Oh, (C)come on, ba by,

mmm, get in the road.

Oh, come on, now,

in (E)the mid dle of the road, yeah.

(A)One

(A)two

(A)three

(A)four

Ooh,

ooh,

Ooh,

ooh,

The (C)mid dle of the road

is no pri vate cul de (A)sac.

I can’t get from the (D7)cab to the curb with out (A)some lit tle (G)jerk on my back.

(A)Don’t har ass me, (G)can’t you tell I’m (D7)go in’ home, I’m (C)tired as hell.

I’m (A)not the cat I (G)used to be; I (D7)got a kid, I’m (C)thir ty three.

Ba by,

well, get in the road.

Come on, now,

in (E)the mid dle of the road, yeah.

Middle Of The Road — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

5 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Middle Of The Road" by The Pretenders: 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, 168 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Middle Of The Road”

What key is "Middle Of The Road" by The Pretenders played in?
Middle Of The Road 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 "Middle Of The Road"?
The arrangement plays at 168 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Middle Of The Road" 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 "Middle Of The Road"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Middle Of The Road"?
"Middle Of The Road" was originally performed by The Pretenders. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Middle Of The Road"?
This arrangement uses 9 chords: A, C, Cpow, D, D7, Dsus4, E, G, +1 more.
What other songs by The Pretenders can I play here?
Try "I'LL STAND BY YOU", "BRASS IN POCKET", "TALK OF THE TOWN". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Middle Of The Road" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Middle Of The Road" by The Pretenders. 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 "Middle Of The Road" 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 "Middle Of The Road" 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.