Intro--- E   G   D  x4

         E              G              D              E             G             D
ooh, I'd rather have my life than be unborn, yes, I'd rather have a bad time than no time at all
         E               G               D                E              G              D
ooh, I'd rather take the storm than be becalmed, yes, I'd rather have my life than be unborn

     E          G           D           E               G                         D         
but, if I was a monkey up a tree, well, all you big old blackbirds would come and take a peck at me
         E                G              D              E                G               D
but, I'd rather have that life than be unborn, yes, I'd rather take that writing off the wall

harmonica break--- E   G   D  x4

           E          G           D         E                G                D
well, now, if I was a monkey up a tree, or, down in some old basement over at 32nd Street
         E             G                   D             E                G               D
but, I'd rather live a nightmare that's my own, yes, I'd rather take that writing off the wall

Bb                  G             D                  Bb             G          D
sometimes I think I must be going crazy, 'cause most people seem to value that that hasn't any worth
      Bb                    G                D        E                  G              D
well, that's their business now you know I'm easy, as long as they don't count on me to do their dirty work

    E             G              D              E            G                D
I'd rather be the rain than be a pond, yes, I'd rather I had nothing than had something that I'd borne
         E              G               D               E                G               D
yes, I'd rather make my church the open road, yes,  I'd rather wipe that writing off the wall

           E          G           D         E             G                D
well, now, if I was a monkey up a tree, or, in some dirty basement down on 32nd Street
          E              G              D              E              G              D
well, I'd rather take my life than be unborn, yes, I'd disregard that writing on the wall

harmonica break--- E   G   D  x4

Bb                  G             D           Bb             G          D
sometimes I think I must be going crazy, most people seem to value that that hasn't any worth
      Bb                    G                D        E                  G              D
well, that's their business now you know I'm easy, as long as they don't count on me to do their dirty work

         E              G              D              E             G             D
ooh, I'd rather have my life than be unborn, yes, I'd rather have a bad time than no time at all
         E                G               D                E              G              D
yes, I'd rather take that storm than be becalmed, yes, I'd rather have my life than be unborn

     E                G                 D         E                G                D
ooh, give me just one wish and leave me be, yeah, give me some old shack up on that rocky mountain scene
         E              G              D              E                G               D
but, I'd rather have my life than be unborn, yes, I'd rather wipe that writing off the wall