Intro: 
 
      12-string {2X, doubled with bass second time} 
 
          v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
      -- | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
      -- | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
      -- | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
      3- | -5-----3-5-----3- | -5-3-----------3- |  
      -- | ----------------- | -----5-3-5------- |  
      -- | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
 
      12-string {2X; continue through verse}: 
 
      {Dm}     G       Dm    G 
        v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
       | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
       | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
       | ---------3---5--- | -6---6---5-3----- | -- 
       | -----5-5--------- | -------------5-3- | -5 
       | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
       | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
 
      bass: 
 
        v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
       | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
       | ---------5---7--- | ---------5---7--- | -- 
       | -5---5-5--------- | -5---5-5--------- | -- 
       | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
 
Verse 1: 
 
              Dm        G           Dm       G 
      It's a hard world   to get a break in 
               Dm         G            Dm     G 
      All the good things   have been taken 
 
           Dm           C    Bb           C 
            v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
           | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
           | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
           | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
           | ---------3---5--- | -5---5---5-3----- | -- 
           | -5---5----------- | --------------5-- | -- 
           | ----------------- | ----------------- | -- 
      (But girl...) 
 
          Dm                      C    Bb        
      But girl there are ways to make certain things pay 
               C    Dm                         C    Bb 
      Though I'm dressed in these rags I'll wear sable 
            C 
      Some day 
        D         
      Hear what I... 
 
        G                 F 
        v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
       | -------4-5---4--- | -------2-3---2--- |  
       | -5--------------- | -3--------------- |  
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
      (say) 
 
          G     F                     G 
      ...say      I'm gonna ride the serpent 
      F                   G 
      No more time spent sweatin' rent 
      F {3 bars} 
      Hear my command I'm breakin' loose 
                   G 
      It ain't no use 
       F {2 bars} 
      Holdin' me down 
       G {3 bars} 
      Stick around 

      But baby (but baby) 

      Remember (remember) 
 
Chorus: 
      C        Dm           F          G 
      It's my life and I'll do what I want 
      C        Dm             F          G 
      It's my mind and I'll think what I want 
      F             G 
      Show me I'm wrong 
      F             G 
      Hurt you sometime 
            F                          G    F  G 
      But someday I'll treat you real fine 
 
Verse 2: 
 
      There'll be women and their fortunes 

      Who just love to mother orphans 

      Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' 'em dry 

      Takin' all I can get, no regrets 

      When I... 

      Openly lie 

      And leave only money 

      Believe me honey, that money 

      Can you believe, I ain't no saint 

      Who complains 

      So girl cut out 

      Any doubt 

      But baby (but baby) 

      Remember (remember) 

{repeat Chorus} 
 
Coda: 
        C       Dm           F          G 
      (It's my life and I'll do what I want) Don't push me 
      (It's my mind and I'll think what I want) It's my life 
      (It's my life and I'll do what I want) And I can do what I want 
      (It's my mind and I'll think what I want) You can't tell me 
      (It's my life and I'll do what I want) {fade}