Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out

by Janis Joplin
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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

(C)Once I lived the (E7)life of a mil lio naire.

Spent all my mon ey, I (Dm)did n’t care

Car ry ing my (F#dim7)friends out (C)for a good time, buy ing (D7)boot leg li quor, cham pagne and wine.

Then I be (E7)gan to fall so low,

I (F)did n’t have a friend,

and (Dm)no place to go.

But if I (F)ev er get my hands on a (C)dol lar a gain, I’m gon na (D7)hold on to it ’til them ea gles grin.

No

bod y (A7)knows you

when you’re (A7)down and (Dm)out.

In my (F#dim7)pock et, not (C)one pen

ny.

And my friends, I

have n’t an (G7)y.

But (C)if I ev er (E7)get on my feet a gain,

then I’ll (A7)meet my (Dm)long lost friend.

It’s not as (F#dim7)strange

with out a (A)doubt,

no bod y knows you when you’re (G7)down and (C)out.

I (D7)mean when you’re (G7)down and (C)out.

Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

1 person has learned this song

Free karaoke for "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" by Janis Joplin: 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, 86 BPM.

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

About “Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out”

What key is "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" by Janis Joplin played in?
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out 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 "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"?
The arrangement plays at 86 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" 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 "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"?
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" was originally performed by Janis Joplin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"?
This arrangement uses 10 chords: A, A7, C, D, D7, Dm, E7, F, +2 more.
What other songs by Janis Joplin can I play here?
Try "ME AND BOBBY McGEE", "LITTLE GIRL BLUE", "PIECE OF MY HEART". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" by Janis Joplin. 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 "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" 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 "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" 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.