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 — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial
4 people have learned this song
Watch "The Joke" by Brandi Carlile in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. 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 learn "The Joke" with falling notes like Synthesia?
- Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "The Joke" with hands-separate practice in D at 72 BPM.
- 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 I practice left and right hand separately for "The Joke"?
- Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "The Joke" one hand at a time before combining them.
- What is falling notes style for "The Joke"?
- Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "The Joke" is in the key of D at 72 BPM.
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