Tightrope

by Janelle Monae
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Lyrics

Whoa,

An oth er (Fm)day.

I’ll (Bb)take your pain a (Fm)way.

Some peo ple talk a bout you like they in’ know all a bout you.

When you get down, they doubt you, some and when you tip ping on the scene, yeah, they talk ing ’bout it, ’cause they can’t tip on the the scene with you.

Talk a bout it, t-, t-, t-, talk in’ ’bout it.

When you get el e vat ed, they love it or they hate it.

You dance up on them hat ers, chine.

keep get ting funk y on the scene.

While they jump ing a round you, they try in’ to take all you your dreams, but you can’t al low it.

’Cause ba by, wheth er you’re high or low,

ba by, wheth er you’re high or low, you got to tip on the (Fm7)tight rope,

t-, t-, t-, tip on the (D)tight rope.

Ba by, ba by, wheth er you’re high or low,

ba by, wheth er you’re high or low, you got to tip on the (F)tight rope.

Now let me see you do the tight rope.

And I’m still tip pin’ on it.

See, I’m not walk in’ on it or lit in’ tle run a round it.

This ain’t no ac ro bat ics; some you eith er fol low or you lead.

Yeah, I’m talk in’ ’bout you.

I’ll keep on what I the be lieve.

Yeah, I’m talk in’ ’bout it, t-, t-, t-, talk in’ ’bout it.

I can’t com plain a bout it.

I got ta keep my bal ance and just keep danc in’ on it.

and We get tin’ funk y on the scene, and you know a a bout it.

they Like in’ a star on you the screen, watch me tip all on it.

Then ba by, wheth er I’m high or low,

ba by, wheth er you’re high or low, you got to tip on the (Fm7)tight rope,

yeah, t-, t-, tip on the (D)tight rope.

Ba by, ba by, wheth er you’re high or low,

ba by, wheth er you’re high or low, you got to tip on the (F)tight rope.

Ba let by, let me see you tight rope.

And I’m still tip pin’ on it.

or low,

wheth er I’m high or low, I’m gon na tip on the (Fm7)tight rope

Ba by, ba by, wheth er I’m high or low,

low, low, low, low, I’ve got to tip on the tight rope.

Now ba by, tip on the tight rope.

You can’t get too high.

(We can’t get too high.) I said you can’t get too low.

(We can’t get too low.) ’Cause you get too high (you can’t get too high), no, you’ll sure ly be low.

(No, you’ll sure ly be low.) One, two, three, now!

Yeah,

yeah.

Now shut up.

Yeah.

(Fm)Yeah.

Now put soome voo doo (F)on it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh!

(I got ta

keep my bal ance.

I got ta

keep my bal ance.

I got ta.

My bal ance, (Dm9)got, got, got ta keep, keep.

some thing ’bout it.

Ja (Gm9)nelle Mo náe, I got ta keep, keep, keep my bal ance.

(Bbm9)Got, got, got ta keep, keep, keep my bal ance.

white line, I got ta

keep my bal ance.

right mind.) I got ta

keep my bal ance.

(Hap py birth day.

Do you mind Hap py birth if I day.

my u ku le Hap py birth just day.

a lit tle la Hap py birth day.

Nev er mind (Hap py birth if day.

play my u ku le Hap py (G)birth just day.

a lit tle la Hap py birth If I day.

my u ku le Hap py birth day.

(Hap py birth day.

Do you mind Hap py birth if I day.

my u ku le Hap py birth just day.

a lit tle la Hap py birth day.

Nev er mind (Hap py birth if day.

play my u ku le Hap py (G)birth just day.

a lit tle la Hap py birth If I day.

my u ku le Hap py birth day.

le Hap py birth day.

Tightrope — Classic Piano Sheet Music

4 people have learned this song

Read "Tightrope" by Janelle Monae in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of Bb. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 168 BPM.

Tip: Break this song into sections and master each one separately. The speed control lets you drill difficult passages at any tempo.

About “Tightrope

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Tightrope"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature Bb. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Tightrope" by Janelle Monae played in?
Tightrope is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Tightrope"?
The arrangement plays at 168 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Tightrope" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "Tightrope"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Tightrope"?
"Tightrope" was originally performed by Janelle Monae. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Tightrope"?
This arrangement uses 18 chords: Bb, Bbm, Bbm9, C, C7, D7, Dbmaj7, Dm, +10 more.
What other songs by Janelle Monae can I play here?
Try "MAKE ME FEEL". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Tightrope" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature Bb, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 168 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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