Ab Ab Fm Db Ab
Ab Ab Fm Db Ab

[Verse 1]
Ab             Eb               Fm                Db                   Ab   Eb Fm Db Ab
You say you're down and out and need some help to get you through each day
Ab             Eb                  Fm               Db             Ab      Eb Fm Db Ab
Well, here's a thought or two I've used and like to pass them on your way
Db           Ab               Bbm7                                Eb   Eb Ab Eb
I found them lying there, the answers that you say you're looking for
Ab            Eb               Fm                 Db           Ab
Make what you will of them and you can change the way it was before

[Chorus]
           Eb Db            Ab
You got to ma-ake it by yourself
Eb           Db             Ab
You know you got to make it by yourself
             Fm                             Bb
I'll be your friend and I'll lend a helping hand
               Db                            Ab    Ab Ab Fm Db Ab
But you got to try and help yourself before I can

[Verse 2]
Ab         Eb              Fm             Db              Ab     Eb Fm Db Ab
I hear you talk of all the happiness and emptiness you've known
Ab             Eb          Fm             Db           Ab     Eb Fm Db
Well, let me reassure you, never were you really all a-lone
Db          Ab         Bbm7                      Eb   Db C Eb
They say in quiet desperation many people cannot see
Ab          Eb             Fm                   Db            Ab
They cannot see the simple truth that's not the way it has to be

[Chorus]
           Eb Db            Ab
You got to fi-ind it by yourself
Eb            Db               Ab
God helps the man who helps himself, amen
          Fm                             Bb
I am your friend and I'll lend a helping hand
               Db                            Ab    Ab Ab Fm Db
But you got to try and help yourself before I can

[Bridge]
Dbmaj7                                      Cm7         Cm
       We got to help (we got to help) each other (each other)
Db                                                     Cm   Bbm7 Db
   You got to help (you to help) your brother when you can
         Eb
When you can

[Verse 3]
Ab            Eb               Fm                  Db               Ab   Eb Fm Db Ab
Now don't you think that I was preaching, I'm just reaching out for you
Ab                Eb            Fm            Db               Ab      Eb Fm Db
'Cause that's the only way that I know how to get the message through
Db           Ab                Bbm7                           Eb   Db C Eb
Then you, in turn, have got to learn and teach it to somebody who
Ab           Eb        Fm        Db             Ab
Who felt the happiness, the emptiness the same as you

[Chorus]
           Eb Db            Ab
You got to ma-ake it by yourself
Eb           Db             Ab
You know you got to make it by yourself
             Fm                             Bb
I'll be your friend and I'll lend a helping hand
               Db                            Ab    Ab Ab Fm Fm Db Db Ab
But you got to try and help yourself before I can                   (hold)