Be As You Are
View chords used in this chart
[Intro: ]
Em Bm G D (x2)
verse
Em Bm
Virginia Woolf and poetry
No one seemed to notice me
D Em
Being young was getting so old
Em Bm
Cheap beer and cigarettes
Life was like a movie set
G D
And I seemed to be given no role
Pre-Chorus
Em
But in times of trouble
Bm
I can turn to my mother
D Em
And I know that she gon' understand
Em
So at age 18
Bm
I cried to my mother
G D
And she told me, "young man"
[Refrão] Em Bm
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
G D
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
Em Bm
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
G D
Just be as you are
Em Bm
Life is not always a comfortable ride
G D
Everybody's got scars that they hide
Em Bm
And everybody plays the fool sometimes, yeah
G D
Just be as you are"
verse
Em Bm
They played me on the radio
And everything was changing, so
D Em
I thought I was all the way grown
Em Bm
But I can still remember in that cold November
G D
When I realized I'm all alone
Pre-Chorus
Em
But in times of trouble
Bm
I can turn to my mother
D Em
And I know that she gon' understand
Em
So at age 22
Bm
I cried to my mother
G D
And she told me, "young man"
[Refrão] Em Bm
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
G D
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
Em Bm
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
G D
Just be as you are
Em Bm
It doesn't matter if you become some star
G D
Life is better when you open your heart
Em Bm
You don't always have to act so hard, no
G D
Just be as you are, Just be as you are"
Bridge
Em Bm G D
C Bm
If I'm speaking truthfully
I'm not who I used to be
D C
And I know some people might laugh
C Bm
Cause my music doesn't sound the same
And my head's no longer shaved
D
I'm worried if I'm on the right path
Pre-Chorus
Em
But in times of trouble
Bm
I can turn to my mother
D Em
And I know that she gon' understand
Em
So at age 26
Bm
I spoke to my mother (Stop strumming)
And she told me, "young man"
[Refrão] Em Bm
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
G D
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
Em Bm
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Em D
Just be as you are
Em Bm
It doesn't matter if you become some star
G D
Life is better when you open your heart
Em Bm
You don't always have to act so hard, no
D
Just be as you are, Just be as you are"
Em Bm G D (x4)
G
Be as you are
How to play Be As You Are
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Em. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.