INTRO:
D  A  D  E  x2

#1.
D            E           D         E
Please don't mistake me, or try to make me,
    D         E       A    D 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
Oh, society's goal is to be part of the whole,
         D                         E  E7
that may sound good to you, not to me.

CHORUS:
       A                 D                 E
Let me be, let me be..to think like I want to.
       A                         D        E
Let me be, let me be..that's all I ask of you.
  D                       C#m    Bm       D
I am what I am and that's all, I ever can be.

(D)  A  D  E  D  A  D  E

#2.
D            E       D        E
Don't try to plan me or understand me,
  D              E       A    D A
I can't stand to be understood.
        D          E         D            E
I could never give in to, or ever live up to,
D          E           A
being like you think I should.
         E                         A
I've got some inner need which I'm tryin' to heed,
        D                 E      E7
I can't take hand-me-down destiny.

CHORUS:
       A                 D                 E
Let me be, let me be..to think like I want to.
       A                         D        E
Let me be, let me be..that's all I ask of you.
  D                       C#m    Bm       D
I am what I am and that's all, I ever can be.

(D)  A  D  E  D  A  D  E

#3.
D            E            D E
Don't try to change me or rearrange me,
   D           E              A  D A
to satisfy the selfishness of you.
    D              E                D                E
I'm not a piece of clay to mold to your moods each day,
        D             E              A
and I'm not a pawn to be told how to move.
          E                                  A
I'm sorry I'm not the fool you thought would play
                       D                   E   E7
by your rules...but to each his own philosophy.

CHORUS:
       A                 D                 E
Let me be, let me be..to think like I want to.
       A                         D        E
Let me be, let me be..that's all I ask of you.
  D                       C#m    Bm       A
I am what I am and that's all, I ever can be.

OUTRO:
               D     E        A
I said, that's all I ever can be.
               D     E        A
I said, that's all I ever can be.
               D     E        A
I said, that's all I ever can be. (fade)