Billy Joel - Getting Closer: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Getting Closer" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

        A                  G
I went searching for the truth
          Em          A
But in my innocence I found
         A                G
All the con men and their acrobats
     Em                 A
Who stomped me in the ground
      A              G
If I count up their percentages
   Em                   A
I know they're getting rich
      A                G
But they haven't taken everything
       Em             A
Those paybacks are a bitch

             C
Though I've lost quite a lot
       G
I am still in control
          C
They can keep what they've got
          A
But they can't have my soul

       D        G        A           D
And if I don't have this all worked out
           D        G      A        D
Still I'm getting closer, getting closer
D             G      A     Bm
I still have far to go no doubt
         D        G      A        D
But I'm getting closer, getting closer

What was ripped off by professionals
Is not all that it seems
While I must live up to contracts
I did not give up my dreams
If I see it as experience
It hasn't gone to waste
Lately all the missing pieces
Have been falling into place

And if I could go back
And start over somehow
I would not change that much
Knowing what I know now

Chorus:
Though there have been sins, I will regret
Still I'm getting close, getting closer
I don't have all the answers yet
But I'm getting closer, getting closer

I'm getting closer, yet, oh, oh, oh
I'm a mark for every shyster
From Topanga to Berlin
And I should have learned to kick them out
As soon as they crawled in
So to every bank in Switzerland
That stores my stolen youth
I'm alright because despite the laws
You cannot hide the truth

And although you will say
I am still too naïve
But I have not lost faith
In the things I believe

Chorus:
And if I don't have this all worked out
Still I'm getting closer, getting closer
I still have far to go, no doubt
But I'm getting closer, getting closer

Ooh-hoo-ooh
I'm getting closer, yeah, yeah
Can't get no closer, no, no

Searching for the truth
In my innocence I found
Stomp me in the ground
Getting closer, yeah, yeah, ooh-hoo


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

Bm

Guitar chord Bm

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

Em

Guitar chord Em

G

Guitar chord G

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Getting Closer" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Getting Closer" by Billy Joel.

Billy Joel Song List