G Em By the time I was thirteen G Em I started taking shape G Em At eighteen I was so beautiful G Em That the strangers started to gape G Em They said "Enter the ultimate contest G Em If you're as gorgeous as you seem" G D C D They said "Please, please, please, please Em Be our American dream." Am Am/G But late that night beneath the grieving moon Am/F# Am/F There's a dazzling sight in my motel room Em Emmaj7 For a grunting judge with his bulging eyes Em7 Em7/13 I give my all for his cherished prize C G/B Am G Oh why D D/C G/B oh why? D G I'm Miss America D G Crying on TV C G/B Silver clad in satin rags Em Am But everything's where it should be D C D G Em G Em G Em G Em Oh say can you see, ah say can you see G Em G Em After they showed me the game ball G Em G Em They told me put on weight G Em G Em They told me I'd be powerful G Em G Em They told me I'd be great G Em G Em And my Uncle Sam he would coach me G Em G Em His helmet on my head G D C D And They said "Please, please, please, please Em Please win and beat the spread Am Am/G But the new game plan that the owners had made Am/F# Am/F Meant that win or lose there would be a trade Em Emmaj7 For the team's become a real gold mine Em7 Em7/13 And the kid's sold off for the bottom line C G/B Am G Oh why D D/C G/B oh why? D G D G Mr. America sweating on TV C G/B The winners joy from the battered boy Em Am For everything's where it should be D C D G Em G Em G Em G Em Oh say can you see, ah say can you see G Em G Em At last we've come together G Em G Em Call it marriage or civil war G Em G Em If it brings us to battle babe G Em G Em It must be worth our fighting for G Em G Em Though today came up cloudy G Em G There will be other days G D C D They said "Please, please, please, please Em What else is there to say?" Am Am/G But in a plywood spread by a plastic stream Am/F# Am/F And in separate beds with a borrowed dream Em Emmaj7 And with questions wide and the silence deep Em7 Em7/13 We take two pills so at last we'll sleep C G/B Am G Oh why D D/C G/B oh why? D G Mr. and Mrs. America D G Our story's on TV C G/B Can you hear canned laughter Em Am For everything's where it should be D C D G Em G Em G Em G Em Oh say can you see, ah say can you see. G Em G Em Well, my little boy he told me something G Em G Em Just the other night G Em G Em He whispered it as I kissed him G Em G Em Before I turned out the light G Em G Em And of course he said it simple G Em G As only children can G D C D He said "Daddy, daddy, daddy, please G Em I'm ready to dream again"