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: 
 
              D5        G5           D5       G5 
      It's a hard world   to get a break in 
               D5         G5            D5     G5 
      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...) 
 
          D5                      C5    Bb5        
      But girl there are ways to make certain things pay 
               C5    D5                         C5    Bb5 
      Though I'm dressed in these rags I'll wear sable 
            C5 
      Some day 
        D5         
      Hear what I... 
 
        G                 F 
        v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
       | -------4-5---4--- | -------2-3---2--- |  
       | -5--------------- | -3--------------- |  
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
       | ----------------- | ----------------- |  
      (say) 
 
          G5     F5                     G5 
      ...say      I'm gonna ride the serpent 
      F5                   G5 
      No more time spent sweatin' rent 
      F5 {3 bars} 
      Hear my command I'm breakin' loose 
                   G5 
      It ain't no use 
       F5 {2 bars} 
      Holdin' me down 
       G5 {3 bars} 
      Stick around 

      But baby (but baby) 

      Remember (remember) 
 
Chorus: 
      C5        D5           F5          G5 
      It's my life and I'll do what I want 
      C5        D5             F5          G5 
      It's my mind and I'll think what I want 
      F5             G5 
      Show me I'm wrong 
      F5             G5 
      Hurt you sometime 
            F5                          G5    F5  G5 
      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: 
        C5       D5           F5          G5 
      (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}