Taylor Swift - Brought Up That Way Chords

C           Am
Emily comes home from school
F               G
Grabs on to her daddy's hand
C                 Am
He says baby girl what's wrong with you
F                              G
She says, please don't make me go back there again
C                          Am                         G
She says I wish there was some way to make them stop it
C                          Am             G  F
So he drives down to that principals office

C
He says I didn't bring her up
Am
So they could cut her down
G
I didn't bring her here
F
So they could shut her out
C
I live my whole damn life
Am
To see that little girl smile
G                F                       G  
So why are tears pouring down that sweet face?
                           C
She wasn't brought up that way

C            Am
Emily's home late again
F                G
He sees that boy drive away
C                        Am
But somethings different this time
F                      G
She hasn't got much to say
C                 Am             F                   G       
She said he tried but there just some things I won't do
C               Am             F                     G
And through the tears she says I couldn't do that to you

C
and he says,
C
I didn't bring you up
Am
So he could wear you down
G
Take that innocent heart
F
And turn it inside out
C                         Am
I live my whole damn life to see my little girl smile
G                   F
So don't let nobody take that away
G                           C
You weren't brought up that way

C                    Am
The phone rings on a rainy night
F                  G 
Says it's officer Tate
C                            Am
He said, sir there's been an accident
F               G
You better come down here right away
C                Am
A drunken driver missed an over-pass
F          G
And Emily, she's fading fast

C
He says,
C
God I didn't bring her up
Am
So I could watch them lay her Down
G                        F
Nearly killed me the day they put her mama in the ground
C                                 Am 
The only thing that kept me alive was that little girl's smile
G         F
So please don't take that away
G                C     Am  G
It won't be easy taking her today
                           C
She wasn't brought up that way

C
he stands over the hospital bed
F                   G    C
and Emily opens her eyes




How to play "Brought Up That Way" by Taylor Swift on Ukulele

Tuning and Setup:
- Standard ukulele tuning (GCEA), no capo is required for
  this song.

Chords Used:
   C:   0003
   Am:  2000
   F:   2010
   G:   0232

Strumming Pattern:
- A common strumming pattern for this song can be
  Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up (DDUUDU). This pattern
  provides a smooth, flowing sound that fits the
  emotional narrative of the song.

Song Structure:
- Intro: Begin with the C chord to set the tone.
- Verses: Use the chord progression C Am F G to accompany
  the storytelling lyrics.
- Chorus: The progression changes slightly to emphasize
  the emotional pitch, shifting between C, Am, G, and F.
- Bridge: The song builds up in the bridge, using more
  intense strumming or a pause to emphasize the narrative.

Common Mistakes:
- Forgetting to switch chords on time, particularly
  during the emotionally charged parts of the song.
  Practice the transitions between chords.
- Overstrumming; this song requires a gentle touch to
  convey its deep emotional themes.
- Not adjusting the strumming dynamics during different
  sections of the song to convey the emotional shifts.

Lyrics Theme Summary:
"Brought Up That Way" tells a poignant story of Emily,
who faces various hardships from school bullying to a
traumatic relationship, and finally a life-threatening
accident. Her father's protective and loving responses
highlight the core message of parental love and the
pain of seeing a child suffer. The narrative explores
themes of protection, innocence, and the impact of
external hardships on internal happiness.