The Way I Should - Written by Iris DeMent
View chords used in this chart
[Intro]
C D G G C D G G
G D G
A cold wind against my shoulder woke me up in the middle of the night
Em
An autumn leaf was scraping against my window
G
Like it was tryin' hard to get inside
C D
And then a ghost that I had met before he kept me up till dawn
G C
And everything I thought was right was suddenly all wrong
D
He said "your score is looking pretty bad"
G
Then he asked me what it was that I had to show
G
So I went runnin' down a list of things
D G
Some were real, but on some of them I lied
Em
'Cause I felt I had to justify each breath that
G
I'd been breathin' in this life
C D
Then I realized I was playing into someone else's rules
G C
Tryin' to keep my score up in a game I did not choose
D
Then I looked that ghost straight in the eye and said
G
"You'd better not be coming back by again"
G C
And it's true that I don't work near as hard
D
As you tell me that I'm supposed to
G C
I don't run as fast as I could
D
But I live just the way I want to
G
And that's the way I should
[Instrumental]
C D G C C D G G
G
October's leaves were dancin' 'round
D G
Like angels dressed in robes of red and gold
Em
But November's come and gone now
G
And they're lyin' in the gutter out along the road
C D
They're gonna make their way out to the ditch or someday to the sea
G C
But they'll get to where they're goin' without the help of you or me
D
And if each life is just a grain of sand
G
I'm tellin' you man, this grain of sand is mine
G C
And it's true that I don't work near as hard
D
As you tell me that I'm supposed to
G C
I don't run as fast as I could
D
But I live just the way I want to
G
And that's the way I should
C D
But I live just the way I want to
G
And that's the way I should
[Outro. Repeat To Fade]
C D G G
Chords:
C = X32010
D = XX0232
Em = 022000
G = 320033
Transcribed by Jim Sparrow - 5th Feb 1998
Email: KidLoops@aol.com
How to play The Way I Should - Written by Iris DeMent
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 C. 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.