Tuning: E A D G B E

Another one of the great songs from Oliver. This is in the key used in the 1968 Oliver movie (Em). I love all of Fagin's songs, this and Reviewing the Situation (which I also submitted) are so great. For a more modal klezmery sound, you can substitute F#m7b5 (2x221x) for the Am at the start of each verse. Note that it's just an Am with an F# in the bass (and no open A string). You can also sub a F7b5 (1x120x) for the B7 on the 2nd line of the verses. And a D can sound nice instead of the Bm on the 3rd line of the verses. Personally I skip the boy's chorus at the end of each verse when playing it. I also skip the modulations (it goes up to Fm for verses 3 through 5, and up to F#m for verse 6). [Verse 1]

^EmIn this life, ^Amone thing counts ^EmIn the bank, l^B7arge amounts ^EmI'm afraid t^Bmhese don't ^Amgrow on t^Emrees, You've ^Amgot to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo

^B7You've ^Emgot to pick-a-^Ampocket or ^Emtwo, b^Amoys, ^EmYou've got to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

[BOYS]

^EmLarge ^Bmamounts don't g^Amrow on t^Emrees. You've ^B7got to pick-a-^B7/F#pocket or t^Emwo.

[Verse 2]

^EmWhy should we ^Ambreak our backs ^EmStupidly ^B7paying tax? ^EmBetter get s^Bmome untax^Amed in^Emcome ^AmBetter to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

^B7You've ^Emgot to pick-a-^Ampocket or ^Emtwo, ^Amboys, ^EmYou've got to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

[BOYS]

^EmWhy should ^Bmwe all ^Ambreak our ^Embacks? Better ^B7pick-a-pocket or ^Emtwo.

[Verse 3]

^EmRobin Hood, ^Amwhat a crook! ^EmGave away, w^B7hat he took. ^EmCharity's fi^Bmne, subscri^Ambe to min^Eme. ^AmGet out and pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo

^B7You've ^Emgot to pick-a-^Ampocket or ^Emtwo, b^Amoys, ^EmYou've got to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

[BOYS]

^EmRobin ^BmHood was ^Amfar too ^Emgood He ^B7had to pick-a-pocket or ^Emtwo.

[Verse 4]

^EmTake a tip ^Amfrom Bill Sikes ^EmHe can whip w^B7hat he likes. ^EmI recall ^Bmthat he st^Amarted s^Emmall He ^Amhad to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

^B7You've ^Emgot to pick-a-^Ampocket or ^Emtwo, ^Amboys, ^EmYou've got to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

[BOYS]

^EmWe can ^Bmbe like ^Amold Bill ^EmSikes ^B7If we pick-a-pocket or t^Emwo.

[Verse 5]

^EmDear old gent ^Ampassing by ^EmSomething nice ^B7takes his eye ^EmEverything's^Bm clear, at^Amtack the ^Emrear Get ^Amin and pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

^B7You've ^Emgot to pick-a-^Dpocket or ^Emtwo, ^Amboys, ^EmYou've got to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

[BOYS]

^EmHave no ^Bmfear, a^Amttack the ^Emrear ^B7Get in and pick-a-pocket or ^Emtwo.

[Verse 6]

^EmWhen I see ^Amsomeone rich, ^EmBoth my thumbs ^B7start to itch ^EmOnly to ^Bmfind some ^Ampeace of ^Emmind We ^Amhave to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

^B7You've ^Emgot to pick-a-^Dpocket or ^Emtwo, b^Amoys, ^EmYou've got to pick-a-^B7pocket or ^Emtwo.

[BOYS]

^EmJust to ^Bmfind some ^Ampeace of ^Emmind We ^B7have to pick-a-pocket or ^Emtwo!

Oliver Twist - Pick a pocket or two