(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 fad