The Entertainer

by Billy Joel
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Lyrics

I (G)am the en ter tain er and I (C)know just where (C)I stand:

An oth er ser e nad at er and an oth er long haired (D)band.

To (G)day I am your cham pi on.

I (C)may have won (C)your hearts.

But I know the game, you’ll for (D)get my name, and I (Am7)won’t be here in an (Cmaj7)oth er year if I (D)don’t stay on the charts.

I (G)am the en ter tain er and I’ve (C)had to pay (C)my price.

The things I did not know at first, we an learned by do ing (D)twice.

But (G)still they come to haunt pi me,

I (C)still they want (C)their say.

So I’ve learned to dance with a (D)hand in my Let ’em (Am7)rub my neck and I (Cmaj7)write ’em a and they (D)go their mer ry way.

I (G)am the en ter tain er,

I (C)been all a round (Dm7)my the world.

I played all kinds of pal (G)ac es

and laid on all the kinds of girls.

I (G)can’t re mem ber fac es, they were the I don’t re mem (Dm7)ber names,

oh, was but what ti the hell, you know it’s just as well, ’cause af ter a while and a thou sand miles, pay, so I cut it all be comes the same.

I (G)am the en ter tain er;

I’ve (C)bring to you round (Dm7)my the songs.

I’d like to spend a day (G)or two;

it’s I on can’t the stay that long.

I (G)got to meet ex pens es, they were I’ve I got to stay (Dm7)in line.

Got was ta get ti those fees you to the a gen cies, and I’d na to stay, but there’s got ta miles, it so they cut just down don’t have the time.

I

I (G)am the en ter tain er

and I (C)know just where (G7)I (C)stand:

An oth er ser e nad (G)er

and an oth er long haired (D)band.

To (G)day I am your cham pi on.

I (C)may have won (G7)your (C)hearts.

But I (Cmaj7)know the game, you’ll for (D)get my name.

I (Am7)won’t be here in an (Cmaj7)oth er year if I (D)don’t stay on the charts.

The Entertainer — Visual Piano Sheet Music

5 people have learned this song

"The Entertainer" 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 G, 120 BPM.

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

About “The Entertainer”

Why does "The Entertainer" 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 "The Entertainer".
What key is "The Entertainer" by Billy Joel played in?
The Entertainer 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 "The Entertainer"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Entertainer" 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 "The Entertainer"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Entertainer"?
"The Entertainer" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "The Entertainer"?
This arrangement uses 9 chords: Am7, C, Cmaj7, D, D7, Dm7, G, G7, +1 more.
What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this real sheet music for "The Entertainer"?
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 "The Entertainer".
Can I see all the notes in "The Entertainer"?
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 G at 120 BPM.