Tuning: E A D G B E

In a gentle 3/4 time Song is sung by Raúl Esparza on the off-broadway recording of "tick, tick Boom!" [Intro] Bb Bb/Ab X4 [Verse]

^BbWhen I was^Bb/Ab nine, ^Bb Michael a^Bb/Abnd I ^Bb ente^Bb/Abred a talen^Bbt show down^Bb/Ab at the Y ^EbNine A M ^Eb/Db, went to ^Ebrehearse by so^Eb/Dbme stair^Ebs Mike cou^Eb/Dbldn't sing ^Ebbut I said "N^Eb/Dbo one cares!" We sang

[Pre-Chorus: 4/4, but the 12th bar is one of 2/4]

^Ab"Yellow Bird" and^Db "Let's Go Fly a Kite^Db" over and over and over til we got ^Bb/Abit righ^Abt When ^Db2we emerged from the^Ab YMCA^Db2, Three o'clock sun h^Abad made the gr^Bbass hay I thought,

[Chorus: 3/4]

^EbHey, what ^Ab2a way to spend th^Dbe da^Bby ^Eb Hey, wha^Ab2t a way to spend ^Dbthe d^Bbay ^CmI make a^Abmaj9 vow, but^Cm I wonder^B now^Db/B, ^Eb/G Am I c^Ab2ut out to spe^Bbsus4nd my time t^Ebhis ^Fway? When

[Verse]

^BbI was s^Bb/Abixteen,^Bb Michael^Bb/Ab and I ^Bb got part^Bb/Abs in "West^Bb Side" at White^Bb/Ab Plains High ^EbThree o'clock^Eb/Db, went to ^Ebrehearse in ^Eb/Dbthe gy^Ebm Mike was^Eb/Db "Doc" — who d^Ebidn't sing — fi^Eb/Dbne with him We sang

[Pre-Chorus: 4/4, but the 12th bar is one of 2/4]

^Ab"Got a rocket in your pocket" and "the^Db Jets are gonna have their day — tonight^Db" Over and over and over til we got it^Bb/Ab right ^Ab When ^Db2we emerged, wiped^Ab out by the pla^Db2y, nine o'clock stars a^Abnd moon lit th^Bbe way I thought,

[Chorus: 3/4]

^EbHey, what a^Ab2 way to spend th^Dbe da^Bby ^Eb Hey, wha^Ab2t a way to spend ^Dbthe ^Bbday ^CmI make a^Abmaj9 vow, ^Cm I wonder^B no^Db/Bw: ^Eb/G Am I cu^Abt out to spe^Bbsus4nd my time th^Ebis w^Bb/Day?

[Bridge]

^CmWith only ^Ab/Cso much^Bb/C time to s^G/Cpend, ^Cm don't want t^Ab/Co waste t^Bb/Che time I^G/C'm given ^Cm"Have it all —^Abmaj7/C play the game"^Bb some rec^Gommend ^Cm I'm afrai^Amaj7d it just ma^Bby be time t^Go give in

[Verse: Key change]

^CI'm twenty^C/Bb nine,^C Michael and^C/Bb I ^C live on th^C/Bbe west side o^Cf Soho^C/Bb, NY ^FNine AM,^F/Eb I write a^F lyric or^F/Eb two, ^F Mike sings hi^F/Ebs song now o^Fn Mad A^F/Ebvenue I sing,

[Pre-Chorus: 4/4, but the 12th bar is one of 2/4 ]

^Bb"Come to your Senses, déf^Dm7enses are not the way t^Ebmaj7o go" ^Gm ^Eb Over and over and over til I get i^C/Bbt righ^Bbt When ^Eb2I emerge from "B^Bb minor" or "A"^Eb2, Five o'clock diner calls^Bb, "I'm on ^Cmy way"

[Chorus: 3/4]

^FHey, what a^Bb2 way to spend the^Eb day ^C ^F Hey, what ^Bb2a way to spend th^Ebe day^C ^DmI make a^Bbmaj9 vow, ^Dm right here and ^Db now^Eb/Db, ^Db ^Eb/Db ^Am I'm gonna ^Bb2spend^Bb/C my time this^Dm way ^Am7 I'm gonna^Bb2 spend m^Bb/Cy time th^Fis ^F/Ebway ^F

Jonathan Larson - Why from tick tickboom