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

[Chorus]
 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

[Chorus]
 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

[Chorus]
 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

[Chorus]
 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