Chords for They Don't Let You in the Opera (If You're a Country Star)

_ [G] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ [C] _ [D] _ _ _ _
_ [F] _ _ [G] _ _ _
[C] Now I [E] was born [F] down in Georgia, [C] but Georgia [G] wasn't good [D] enough for me.
_ I'd sing country [Dm] songs for them, [Em] but my heart [C] sang love poem, and it didn't [E] help we moved [Am] to Tennessee.
_ _ [F] Nashville's [G] not the place you [C] sing high C.
If you want to [E] sing it all, you [F] best sing country.
[C] So I picked up [G] how to do it pretty fast.
[C] _ Be a country [Dm] star or go [C] in the sticks them hicks don't [G] know.
There these [E] regal edo [Am] from their ass. _
[F] So a country [G] star is how I [C] came to pass.
But [Am] I'll sing opera one day, [E] it's like Opry with an A.
[D] I told my agent in his [G] fancy [A] car, _ [C] and it pained him I could tell, [F] when he said no [D] chance in
hell, [F] they don't let you in the opera if you're a [D] country star.
Is it the [F] way I say [G] obligato? _
[C] So I took that [E] country singing [F] job and shoved it, [C] and I headed [G] to the Met and [C] NYC.
I know that stage is [Dm] hard to reach, [C] but Domingo [F] likes a peach.
[C] You should hear that [E] tenor voice sing [Am] _
rockabilly.
[F] Now I'm trying [G] out for the barber [C] of Seville.
_ [Am] When a voice comes from the house, [E] from those tassels on your blouse, [D] I can tell you've
got a twang and play guitar.
I [C] bet they love you in the south, [F] but please don't [D] open your mouth.
[F] We can't let you in the opera if you're a [C] country star, [F] cause no patron trusts an opera
[A#] in the hands of a [C] country star.
[G] Do you think I can't wail cause I got long pink fingernails?
I had to play more [C] country songs just to stay afloat.
[G] Though I eat as my roll, I'm in a southern [Gm] pigeon hole.
I sing like [C] Mary Callas, but no one's heard a note.
[Am] Till I charmed an old blowhard [E] who owns half a Juilliard, [D] said my singing was so beautiful [G] he'd cry.
_ [C] And I felt my heartbeat hop, [F] then I heard his [D] heartbeat stop.
[F] He said, welcome to the opera, [A#] and then the [C] bastard died.
[F] _ _ _ _ _
[Dm] _ _ [G] _ _ _ _
[C] Well, time went [E] by, I gave up [F] on the opera.
_ _ [C] Grabbed a man, [G] got ready for a [F] kid. _
[C] Though La Scala never [Dm] called, my [C] ears still [F] get enthralled [C] when I hear a great [E] soprano
[Am] blow her lead.
_ [F] So head up [G] to the opera house, I [F] did.
_ [C] _
_ But [Am] as vibratos start to shake, _ [E] I feel my water break.
[D] _ I'd never [F#] even make it down the [C] aisle.
[G] If [C] you'd have been there, you'd have seen, in [F] that second [D] mezzanine.
First [C] a head, then two feet, from [F] my ninety dollar [D] seat.
As [C] I lifted up my gown to [F] the doctor, to [D] her, _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [A#] it hurt like [Gm] hell. _ _ _
_ _ Oh my god, oh my god, oh [Em] my god, does that swell?
_ _ [D] _
_ _ _ _ [G] _ _
[Gm] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [Dm] Contraction, contraction, _ contraction, [D#m] _ _ contraction.
I _ _ paid so much for [F] Dr.
Chong.
_ _ _ [G] _ _
[F] _ _ [A#] Yeah, I'm _ [Dm] _ _ [A#] _ _ _
_ [Dm] _ _ _ _ _
[Fm] _ _ _ _ _ _
[C] _ _ _ [D#] _ _ _
_ [C] _ _ _ [Fm] _ _
_ _ _ _ [F#m] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
[A] _ _ _ [C#m] _ _ [F#] _
_ pushing, _ _ _
_ _ [A] _ _ I'm pushing.
_ _ _ _ _ [B] _
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ It's [F#] like pushing [G#m] off _ _ [F#] _ _
the size _ _ _
_ [B] _ _ _ _ _
[F#] _ of a, a, a, a, _ _ [C#] _ _
what?
_ _ _ _ [A] _
_ _ _ _ _ [G#] _
_ _ _ _ _ _
[G] _ _ _ [E] _ _
I'm so [D] sorry about your dress. _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [A] _ Well, now to my surprise, those patrons had tears in their eyes.
The New York [D] Times review even raved [A] I was all that.
The _ [Am] headline [A] was our opera gives birth to a [Am] new star.
When she died, what [D] fun, and a newborn in her lap.
[Bm] Then the head of the trustees board [F#] said, before you cut the cord,
[E] here's an eight year contract and some [D] caviar.
_ You'll stop right away, my dear.
[G] We have daycare, [E] please sign here.
[G] Been my dream since I sang country.
[A] Now I'm an oaf.
_ [D] _ _ _ _
[G] But you were the best part [Em] of the opera [A] by far.
_ Now [D] a crib ain't [F#] where you're needing [G] pearls of wisdom. _ _
_ [D] But listen up [A] before you've cried [D] a word. _ _
When you hear no, don't [Em] get upset.
It [D] means yes, but [G] just not yet.
[D]
Fight the most [F#] when folks [Bm] say you're absurd.
_ _ [G] In the end, [A] I believe we all [D] get hurt.
_ _ But if [Bm] I may suggest one rule [F#] before I'm no longer cool,
[E] what you do ain't always [A] who you are.
So [D] if you find your heart is set [G] on both Memphis [E] and the Met,
[D] and they force you to choose, [G] don't run off and [E] sing the blues.
[G] That's your ass you can [D] sing opera _ [F#] if you're [A] a country star. _ _
_ _ [D] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [N] _ _ _