Verse 

E                B 
The gates of the schoolyard 
    B             E 
Are padlocked and chained 
E               B           F#         E 
To keep all the children in out of the rain 
E                 B 
The art teacher's preaching 
B                     E 
The virtues of pastel shades 
E          B                F#              E 
You pay no attention but it won't hurt your grades 


[Refrão]
 
 E                        B 
'cause you're painting by numbers 
B              E 
Connecting the dots 
E                  B 
They don't have to tell you 
    F#             E 
You don't call the shots 
    E                  B 
You jump when they say jump 
B                     E 
And you don't ask how high 
 E                 B            F#              E 
'cause painting by numbers they know you'll get by 
E           B            F#              E 
Painting by numbers they know you'll get by 

Verse 
E          B 
You take a position 
B                E 
In the old man's firm 
E                B 
He signs all the papers 
    F#           E 
You agree to the terms 
E                B 
They let you run errands 
B                      E 
And you don't get days off 
    E            B           F#           E 
You take off the garbage and hope it pays off 


[Refrão]
 
 E                        B 
'cause you're painting by numbers 
B              E 
Connecting the dots 
    E          B 
You work from neck down 
    F#             E 
You don't call the shots 
    E                  B 
You jump when they say jump 
B                     E 
And you don't ask how high 
 E                 B            F#              E 
'cause painting by numbers they know you'll get by 
E           B            F#              E 
Painting by numbers they know you'll get by 

Verse 
E               B 
You might be in grad school 
B         E 
Up at M.I.T 
E                        B 
You might be down in the canal zone 
      F#               E 
Being all that you can be 
E                B 
You might get to thinking 
B                   E 
You're ahead of the game 
E                         B 
But when you break it all down 
       F#            E 
It all comes out the same 


[Refrão]

 E                        B 
'cause you're painting by numbers 
B              E 
Connecting the dots 
    E          B 
You work from neck down 
    F#             E 
More often than not 
    E                  B 
You jump when they say jump 
B                     E 
And you don't ask how high 
 E                 B            F#              E 
'cause painting by numbers they know you'll get by 

 E                        B 
'cause you're painting by numbers 
B              E 
Connecting the dots 
    E          B 
You work from neck down 
    F#             E 
You don't call the shots 
    E                  B 
You jump when they say jump 
B                     E 
And you don't ask how high 
E           B            F#              E 
Painting by numbers they know you'll get by 
E           B            F#              E 
Painting by numbers they know you'll get by 
E           B            F#              E 
Painting by numbers they know you'll get by