E (022100@1)                                                      A1. (x02220@1)When I was nine I learned survival, taught myself not to care,
  F# (244322@1)                                                  Bm (x24432@1)    I was my single good companion, taking my comfort there.
     G (320003@1)                      C (x32010@1)
    Up in my room I planned my conquests,
    D (xx0232@1)               Bm (x24432@1)          G (320003@1)         C (x32010@1)
    on my own, never asked for a helping hand,
    D (xx0232@1)                           G (320003@1)
    no one would understand.
    E (022100@1)                                 Am (x02210@1)    I never asked the pair who fought below,
                          Am (x02210@1)  - Cm- (x3101x@1)G (320003@1) 
    just in case they said "no".

     E (022100@1)                                                 A2. (x02220@1)Pity the child who has ambition, knows what he wants to do,
       F# (244322@1)                                               Bm (x24432@1)   knows that he'll never fit the system others expect him to.
     G (320003@1)                           C (x32010@1)   Pity the child who knew his parents,
    D (xx0232@1)                          Bm (x24432@1)          G (320003@1)         C (x32010@1)   saw their faults, saw their love die before his eyes,
     D (xx0232@1)                           G (320003@1)   pity the child that's wise.
     E (022100@1)                                        Am (x02210@1)   He never asked, did I cause your distress,
                          Am (x02210@1)  - Cm (x3101x@1)    
    just in case they said "yes".

        G (320003@1)                           F (133211@1)   When I was twelve my father moved out,
                                      C (x32010@1)    left with a whimper not with a shout.
    G (320003@1)                                        F (133211@1)    I didn't miss him, he made it perfectly clear,
                                C (x32010@1)    I was a fool, and probably queer.
    Cm (x3101x@1)
    Fool that I was, I thought this would bring
                     F (133211@1)              Cm (x3101x@1)    those he had left closer together.
    G (320003@1)    She made her move the moment he crawled away,
              Am (x02210@1)    Cm (x3101x@1)     G (320003@1)           Am (x02210@1)   Cm (x3101x@1)     G (320003@1)   I was the last the woman told, she never let her bed get cold,
                  Am (x02210@1)  Cm (x3101x@1)     G (320003@1)   someone moved in, I shut my door,
                Am (x02210@1)     Cm (x3101x@1)                     G (320003@1)   someone to treat her just the same way as before.

    E (022100@1)                                                 A (x02220@1)3. I took the road of least resistance, I had my game to play,
   F# (244322@1)                                                  Bm (x24432@1)   I had the skill, and more - the hunger - easy to get away.
     G (320003@1)                 C (x32010@1)   Pity the child with no such weapons,
     D (xx0232@1)            Bm (x24432@1)             G (320003@1)     C (x32010@1)   no defense, no escape from the ties that bind,
     D (xx0232@1)                G (320003@1)   always a step behind.
    E (022100@1)                                 Am (x02210@1)   I never called to tell her all I'd done,
                  Am (x02210@1)  - Cm~ (x3101x@1)F- (133211@1)Cm- (x3101x@1)G (320003@1)   I was only her son.

      E (022100@1)                                                A (x02220@1)4. Pity the child, but not forever, not if he stays that way,
    F# (244322@1)                                              Bm (x24432@1)   he can get all he ever wanted, if he's prepared to pay.
     G (320003@1)                      C (x32010@1)    Pity instead the careless mother,
    D (xx0232@1)               Bm (x24432@1)               G (320003@1)     C (x32010@1)    what she missed, what she lost when she let me go,
           D (xx0232@1)         Bm (x24432@1)     - E (022100@1)   and I wonder, does she know ?
   E7 (020130@1)                                         Am (x02210@1)   I wouldn't call, a crazy thing to do,
                                 - Am (x02210@1) Cm (x3101x@1)        + G- (320003@1)F- (133211@1)C- (x32010@1)G3x (320003@1)    just in case she said,           who?