G5 D5 C5 When I was born, they looked at me and said What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy G5 D5 C5 And when you were born, they looked at you and said What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl We've got these chains that hang around our necks People want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same When temptation calls, we just look away G5 D5 This name is the hairshirt I wear C5 And this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair G5 D5 This song is the cross that I bear C5 Bear it with me, Bear with me, Bear with me G5 D5 C5 (open) C5 Be with me tonight G5 D5 C5 (open) C5 I know that it isn't right But be with me tonight I go to school, I write exams If I pass, If I fail, If I drop out, does anyone give a damn? And if they do, they'll soon forget 'Cause it won't take much for me to show that my life ain't over yet I wake up scared, I wake up strange I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever gonna change I wake up scared, I wake up strange And everything around me stays the same CHORUS I couldn't tell you, that I was wrong Chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song I couldn't tell you, you were right So instead I looked in the mirror, watched TV, layed awake all night We've got these chains that hang around our necks Perople want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same When temptation calls . . . CHORUS REPEAT FIRST VERSE