D A  D E

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
Oh, society's goal is to be part of the whole
         D                         E
That may sound good to you, not to me

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

D A  D E

D            E       D       E
Don't try to plan me or understand me
  D     E                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 trying to heed
        D                      E
I can't take hand me down destiny

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

D            E         D      E
Don't try to change me or rearrange me
   D    E                     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
              D                              E
I'm sorry I'm not the fool you thought would play by your rules
       D        E           A
But to each his own philosophy

       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       A
I am what I am and that's all I ever can be
              D     E        A
I said that's all I ever can be  3x

* Alternate:

Capo II

A   = G
D   = C
E   = D
C#m = Bm
Bm  = Am