On My Own

<chorus start (and begin song with chorus)>
G . . . . . . . . . . F
When I was a little boy
G . . . . . . . . . . F
When I was a man
G . . . . . . . . . . . F
I never knew if I cared
. . . .Dm . .Bb . . Dm
If I even gave a damn

<B start (and after first chorus)>
G . . . . . . . . . . . . .F
I built my life on other’s plans
G . . . . . . . . . . . . F
I built my life it seems
G . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F
Never stopping to ask why
Dm . . . Bb . . . . . Dm
Never following dreams

. . . . . . Am

Now I know that it’s wrong
. . . . . . Dm
And I know I got to change
. . . . . . . .Am
Will you help me organize
. . . . . . . .Dm . . . .Bb . .Dm
Will you help me turn around

<B end>

C
I spent my time in school
. . . . . . . . . . Am
Where they teach you how to follow rules
. . . . . . . . Dm
And they stuff your mind full of facts
. . . . . . . . Am
But they never let you think yourself
. . . . . . . Dm . Bb . Dm
And it’s gotta be a crime

C
So I played and joked with friends of mine
. . . . . . . . Am
While we marked our books with pretty lines
Dm
Memorizing dates and names
. . . .Am
But never knowing when or who
. . . . . . . Dm . Bb . Dm
And it’s gotta be a crime

I left my school for a girl
We married and built our world
Out of sadness and overwork
It was what we were supposed to do
And it’s gotta be a crime

We had our children and raised them up
With fond affection and a golden cup
And while we did we lost ourselves
In the pattern of the routine day
And it’s gotta be a crime

I left my girl for a lover
Who I thought I needed like no other
And I let my life slip far away
To a place where I thought she’d stay
And it’s gotta be a crime

We fooled ourselves into staying close
With zoo’s and walks and pretty toasts
We acted out the lines we read
Which in the end left bitterness
And it’s gotta be a crime

I left my lover to hide away
In singles bars I’d dance and sway
With plastic people in flashing lights
On the make in their flowered fright
And it’s gotta be a crime

We’d play the game and have our fun
On tennis courts, in the pool and sun
And after dark we’d stay up late
Hiding loneliness ‘neath satin sheets
And it’s gotta be a crime

Now, I sit alone and write my song
Singing lyrics and playing on
I stop and think and concentrate
To my world I can now relate
And I’m finally on my own

I shake my head and I look around
Clearing empty rules and needless bounds
Plans and hopes and thoughts spill out
For me to try and to dream about
And I’m finally on my own.

<B>

James K. Richardson