(P.F. Sloan)







Intro:







D A D6 E [2X; 12-string enters 2nd time]



/ / / / / / / /







Verse 1:







D E D E



Please don't mistake me or try to make me



D E A



The shadow of anybody else



D E D E



I ain't the him or her you think I am



D E A



I'm just trying hard to be myself



E A



Though society's goal is to be part of the whole



D E



That may sound good to you, not to me







Chorus:







A



Let me be, let me be



D E



To think like I want to



A



Let me be, let me be



D E



That's all I ask of you



D C#m Bm [1,2: repeat intro 3: to coda]



I am what I am and that's all I ever can be







Verse 2:







Don't try to plan me or understand me



I can't stand to be understood



I could never give in to or ever live up to



Being like you think I should



I've got some inner need that I'm tryin' to heed



I can't take hand-me-down destiny







[repeat chorus]







Verse 3:







Don't try to change me or rearrange me



To satisfy the selfishness in you



I'm not a piece of clay to mold to your moves each day



And I'm not a pawn to be told how to move



I'm sorry I ain't the fool you thought would play by your rules



A to-each-is-own philosophy







[repeat chorus]







Coda:







A



(...be)







D E A



I said that's all I ever can be [repeat to fade]