| B | F# | B | E | A | E | |
| Must be getting | early | , | clocks are running | late | , |
| F# | B | E | |
| Paint-by-number morning | sky, | looks so phony. |
| B | F# | B | E | A | E | |
| Dawn is breaking | every | where, | light a candle, | curse the | glare, |
| F# | B | E | |
| Draw the curtains, I don't | care, ' | cause it's alright. |
| Chorus |
| F# | B | E | |
| I | will get | by, |
| F# | B | E | |
| I | will get | by, |
| F# | B | A | E | F# | |
| I | will bet | by | , |
| E | A | E | B | F# | B | F# | |
| I will sur | vive. |
| I see you've got your list out, say your piece and get out, |
| Yes I get the gist of it, but it's all right. |
| Sorry that you feel that way, the only thing there is to say, |
| Every silver lining's got a touch of grey. |
| Chorus |
| C#m | F# | C#m | F# | |
| It's a lesson to | me, the | Ables and the Bakers and the | Cs |
| D#m | A# | C#m | F# | |
| The ABCs | we all must face, and | try to keep a little | grace. |
| C#m | F# | C#m | F# | |
| It's a lesson to | me, the | deltas and the east and the | freeze |
| D#m | A# | C#m | F#m | |
| The ABCs, | we all think of, | try to give a little | love |
| I know the rent is in arrears, the dog has not been fed in years, |
| It's even worse than it appears, but it's all right. |
| Cows giving kerosene, kid can't read at seventeen, |
| The words he knows are all obscene, but it's all right. |
| Chorus |
| The shoe is on the hand it fits, there's really nothing much to it |
| Whistle through your teeth and spit, 'cause, it's all right. |
| Oh, well, a Touch of Grey, kind of suits you anyway |
| That was all I had to say, it's all right. |
| I will get by, I will get by |
| I will get by, I will survive |
| We will get by, we will get by |
| We will get by, we will survive |