Other arrangements of The Joke
Pick a learning view.
You’re feel ing nerv ous, aren’t you, boy,
with your qui et voice
and im pec ca ble (D)style?
Don’t let them ev er steal your joy,
and your gen tle ways
that keep ’em from run ning wild.
They can kick dirt in your face,
(Am)dress you down, and tell you that your place is in the (G)mid dle, when they hate the way you shine.
I see you tug ging on your shirt,
tryin’ to hide in side of it, and hide how much it hurts.
Let ’em laugh
while they can.
Let ’em (G)spin,
let ’em (Gm)scat ter in
the wind.
I have been to the mov ies, I’ve seen how it ends,
and the joke’s
on
them.
You get dis cour aged, don’t you, girl?
It’s your broth er’s world
for a while long er.
We got ta (D)dance with the dev il on a riv er to beat the stream.
Call it “liv ing the dream,”
call it “kick ing the lad (D)der.”
They (D)come to kick dirt in your face, to (Am)call you weak and then dis place you, af ter (G)car ry ing your ba by on your back a cross the des ert.
I saw your eyes be hind your hair,
and you’re look ing tired,
but you don’t look scared.
Let ’em laugh
while they can.
Let ’em (G)spin,
let ’em (Gm)scat ter in
the wind.
I have been to the mov ies, I’ve seen how it ends,
and the joke’s
on
them.
Let ’em laugh
while they can.
Let ’em (G)spin,
let ’em (Gm)scat ter in
the wind.
I have been to the mov ies, I’ve seen how it ends,
and the joke’s
on
them.
Let ’em
on
(D)them.
The Joke — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners
4 people have learned this song
Learn "The Joke" 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 D, 72 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “The Joke”
- Can I play "The Joke" 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 "The Joke" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
- What key is "The Joke" by Brandi Carlile played in?
- The Joke is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Joke"?
- The arrangement plays at 72 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "The Joke" 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 Joke"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "The Joke"?
- "The Joke" was originally performed by Brandi Carlile. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "The Joke"?
- This arrangement uses 8 chords: Am, Am7, D, Dsus2, Dsus4, F#, G, Gm.
- What other songs by Brandi Carlile can I play here?
- Try "The Story", "PARTY OF ONE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Can a complete beginner play "The Joke"?
- 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. "The Joke" is perfect for first-time players.
- Do I need to read music to play "The Joke"?
- No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "The Joke" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.
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