Lyrics:

Let Me Be
The Turtles
(P.F. Sloan)

Intro:

D A D6 E [2X; 12-string enters 2nd time]
/ / / / / / / /

Verse 1:

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

Chorus:

A
Let me be, let me be
D E
To think like I want to
A
Let me be, let me be
D E
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:

A
(...be)

D E A
I said that's all I ever can be [repeat to fade]

-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers