By: Billy Joel This is my interpretation of the song as I hear it. I am a dueling pianist and love to play and sing. There are many chords in this song that are written as a triad over a bass note. This is because you should listen to the song and work out the correct syncopation with the bass and triad. If timed correctly, you will find this works very well. The Esus4 which appears commonly throughout should not have a third. But if it did, it should be thought of as an Em rather than EMaj. ========================================================== Intro: EGEG EDCC/C Verse 1: Esus4 G Well you went uptown riding in your limousine Esus4 G With your fine Park Avenue clothes Esus4 D6 You had the Dom Perignon in your hand C C/C And the spoon up your nose Esus4 G And when you wake up in the morning With your head on fire Esus4 G And your eyes too bloody to see Esus4 D6 Go on and cry in your coffee but don't C C/C Come bitchin' to me Chorus: G/F F/C G/F F/C Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you G/F F/C G/F You had to open up your mouth G F/D G F/D You had to be a big shot, didn't you G F/D C All your friends were so knocked out Em7 G/F F/C G/F F/C You had to have the last word, last night G/F F/C F You know what everything's about F/C C F/C C You had to have a white hot spotlight G/C G/D D G/D D You had to be a big shot last night Break - Same as Intro: EGEG EDCC/C Verse 2: Esus4 G They were all impressed with your Halston dress Esus4 G And the people that you knew at Elaine's Esus4 G And the story of your latest success C C/C Kept 'em so entertained Esus4 G Aw but now you just can't remember all the things you said Esus4 G And you're not sure you want to know Esus4 D6 I'll give you one hint, honey you sure C FCC Did put on a show Chorus: G/F F/C G/F F/C Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't you G/F F/C G/F You had to prove it to the crowd G F/D G F/D You had to be a big shot, didn't you G F/D C All your friends were so knocked out Em7 G/F F/C G/F F/C You had to have the last word, last night G/F F/C F You're so much fun to be around F/C C F/C C You had to have the front page, bold type G/C G/D D G/D D You had to be a big shot last night Whoa... Bridge: F F/AF/CC C/E C/G Whoa oh oh whoa whoa G G/BG/DD7 Whoa oh oh whoa whoa F F/AF/CC C/E C/G Whoa oh oh whoa whoa G G/BG/DD7 Whoa oh oh whoa whoa Verse 3: Esus4 G Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in Esus4 G If you know when to leave it alone Esus4 D6 But you went over the line you couldn't see C C/C It was time to go home Chorus: G/F F/C G/F F/C No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you G/F F/C G/F You had to open up your mouth G F/D G F/D You had to be a big shot, didn't you G F/D C All your friends were so knocked out Em7 G/F F/C G/F F/C You had to have the last word, last night G/F F/C F So much fun to be around F/C C F/C C You had to have a white hot spotlight G/C G/D D G/D D You had to be a big shot last night Fade Out on Chorus Chords: GFGF/C GFGF/C GFGF/D GFGF/D