CAPO on 1st fret
Standard tuning (EADGBe)
Chords:
F#m 244222
D   xx0232  
A   x02220
E   022100

Verse 1
F#m   D
I wrote this song for my father
A           E                        F#m   D    A   E
Sometimes I feel he never gave a damn about me
      F#m       D        A
Though he raised me like he should
 E              F#m     D            A   E
Did he understand me? No, no, I don't think so.

I wrote this song for my mother 
She had to leave me, when I was younger 
She said son, seek this life, and keep an open mind
But in my mind's eye... 

Chorus
      D   F#m
I am free now
          A               E
Free to live without my fears
      D   F#m
I believe now
    A               E
There's a reason why I'm here.
                   F#m  D  A
It's to try and do good
E                    F#m      D   A  E
It's to try and do better. (ooh oh)

Verse 2
Who will I be for my daughter?
This little baby, she means the world to me
Will I relive their mistakes?
Or do things the right way
For her sake.

Chorus
I am free now
Free to live without my fears
I believe now
There's a reason why I'm here
      D
Can I be a man?
         F#m
One that understands
         A               E 
How to love more patiently 
         D   F#m
I'll be free now
         A    E
I'll be free now.


Bridge
         D                         A               
And we dream of the day, when our kids can play
          E
In the streets with no fear of them being taken away
          D                      A
Fathers raise their sons with respect and love 
         E
Handle anger and pain with no need for no guns
       D                        A
If we hope to be free it takes you and me
         E                
To start over here and now
        D                  A               E
'Cause this world is, the way it is, it's how we raise our kids.

F#m   D         A   E
I wrote this song for my mother, wrote this song for our father
So hopefully we can come together 
And hopefully make things a little better.

Chorus
D   F#m   A   E
I am free now
Free to live without my fears
I believe now
There's a reason why I'm here.
      D
Can I be a man?
         F#m
One that understands
         A               E 
How to love more patiently 
         D   F#m
I'll be free now
         A    E
I'll be free now. (finish in D)