Intro:

      D5   A5    D5  E5            [2X; 12-string enters 2nd time]
      / / / /  / / / /

Verse 1:

        D5              E5      D5          E5
      Please don't mistake me or try to make me
            D5        E5       A5
      The shadow of anybody else
      D5            E5      D5              E5
      I ain't the him or her you think I am
                D5      E5            A5
      I'm just trying hard to be myself
                E5                     A5
      Though society's goal is to be part of the whole
                 D5                       E5
      That may sound good to you, not to me

Chorus:

             A5
      Let me be, let me be
          D5            E5
      To think like I want to
             A5
      Let me be, let me be
              D5        E5
      That's all I ask of you
        D                       C#m   Bm     [1,2: repeat intro  3: to coda]
      I am what I am and that's all I ever can be

Verse 2:

      Don't try to plan me or understand me
      I can't stand to be understood
      I could never give in to or ever live up to
      Being like you think I should
      I've got some inner need that I'm tryin' to heed
      I can't take hand-me-down destiny

[repeat chorus]

Verse 3:

      Don't try to change me or rearrange me
      To satisfy the selfishness in you
      I'm not a piece of clay to mold to your moves each day
      And I'm not a pawn to be told how to move
      I'm sorry I ain't the fool you thought would play by your rules
      A to-each-is-own philosophy

[repeat chorus]

Coda:

          A5
      (...be)

                     D5     E5       A5
      I said that's all I ever can be   [repeat to fade]


-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers