E                          A 
We left home when was barely past eleventeen, 
     E                                   B 
Been back and forth, all around through hell and rain. 
      E                                         A 
I've loved you half your life and I'll keep on lovin' you 
    E                   B               E 
But I can't change and live the way you want me to. 
 
    E                             A 
We spent alot of time out on the highway 
E                                B 
Comin' from some town we played along the way. 
E                               A 
Thirty years of knowin' me the way you do, 
     E                       B                E 
You know I can't change and live the way you want me to. 
 
        B                            E 
- That red bandana tied around her auburn hair, 
     B                                  E 
She looks like she outta be somebody's wife somewhere. 
                                                   A 
She ain't never gonna be no Bobby McGee but she's tryin' to. 
E                   B                 E 
I can't change and live the way she wants me to. - 
 
     E                                       A 
Everytime she leaves the stage I know she's had her fill. 
    E                               B 
I wonder why she grew up and why I never will. 
     E                                 A 
I'm fourty-one today, still goin' on twenty-two 
    E                   B                E 
But I can't change and live the way she wants me to. 
 
        B                            E 
- That red bandana tied around her auburn hair, 
     B                                  E 
She looks like she outta be somebody's wife somewhere. 
                                                   A 
She ain't never gonna be no Bobby McGee but she's tryin' to. 
E                   B                 E 
I can't change and live the way she wants me to 
                     B                E 
We can't change and live the way she wants us to.