G               D                           C
When I was born, they looked at me and said

What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy
G               D                           C
And when you were born, they looked at you and said

What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl

G               D                           C
We've got these chains that hang around our necks

People want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath
G               D                           C
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same

When temptation calls, we just look away

Refrão:
        G             D
     This name is the hairshirt I wear
        C
     And this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair
        G             D
     This song is the cross that I bear
        C
     Bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me
                         G D C C9 G
     Be with me tonight
                                G D C C9 G
     I know that it isn't right

     But be with me tonight

G               D                           C
I go to school, I write exams

If I pass, If I fail, If I drop out, does anyone give a damn?
G               D                           C
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

G               D                           C
I wake up scared, I wake up strange

I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever gonna change
G               D                           C
I wake up scared, I wake up strange

And everything around me stays the same

G               D                           C
I couldn't tell you, that I was wrong

Chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song
G               D                           C
I couldn't tell you, you were right

So instead I looked in the mirror, watched TV, layed awake all night

G               D                           C
We've got these chains that hang around our necks

Perople want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath
G               D                           C
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same

When temptation calls . . .