Am           G           F           G       Am  G  F  G
When all the help in the world won't get you by
Am           G                F       G       C
When all the friends that you lean on let you down
              E
You'll wonder why
Am        G               F        G/E
I see you there with your painting box
         Am       G                F         G/E
And your oils and brushes and your artist's smocks
C           Dm        F         G
What'll you do if the Muse gets lost
         Am
When I'm gone?


[Instrumental]
Am  G  F  G  x4


[Verse 2]
Am          G         F       G        Am  G  F  G
You painted me in the way you said you knew
Am        G            F     G       C            E
I don't believe that I saw myself in anything you drew
Am        G           F         G/E
I say you never quite caught it right
Am          G           F         G/E
You say you see me in a different light
C           Dm           F         G
What'll you do with your black and white
         Am  G  F  G  Am  G  F
When I'm gone


[Chorus]
             A
You paint by numbers
G        F            E
 I never noticed it before
             A
You paint by numbers
G            F             G
 It's just a closing of an open door
C                   B
When you're looking round
    Bb              Am
You won't see me no more
    G        F
You paint by numbers


[Instrumental]
Am  G  F  G  x4


[Solo]
Am  G  F  G  x14


[Verse 3]
Am      G            F         G        Am  G  F  G
Staying here in this room just makes me pale
Am      G            F     G       C          E
I never really could fit into your geometric scale
Am        G          F       G/E
I see you measure my profile up
        Am       G           F      G/E
And you mix your paints in a broken cup
C           Dm        F           G
What'll you do if the brush gets stuck
         Am  G  F  G  Am  G  F
When I'm gone


[Chorus]
             A
You paint by numbers
G        F            E
 I never noticed it before
             A
You paint by numbers
G            F             G
 It's just a closing of an open door
C                   B
When you're looking round
    Bb              Am
You won't see me no more
    G        F
You paint by numbers


[Instrumental]
Am    G    F    D7
Am    G    F    D7


[Outro]
Am  G  F  G
(repeat and fade)