Standard (EADGBE)

When I was born, they looked at me and said

What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy

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

Chorus

This name is the hairshirt I wear

And this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair

This song is the cross that I bear

Bear it with me, Bear with me, Bear with me

Be with me tonight

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