Em  G  D  C     C  G   D  D


[Verse]

Em           C                               G                          D
Step 1: You write a simple chorus. Don't you bore us with an intro or a clever little verse
Em        C                                    G                          D
Step 2: stop pretending there's some kinda of formula for making it, I've never been so sure
Em             C                                    G                            D
Only time will tell me if I'm something, if I'm cursed or if I'm cunning, if I'm talented or stale
Em                         C                                    G                          D
‘Cause every song is an attempt to just impress you, it's an educated guess to light a bulb or ring a bell


[Chorus]

Em         G           D                           C
And here I am as I cut corners on a left turn up a sentimental street
Em         G           D                           C
And all I do I do to make my parents proud of who I am or who I'm 'bout to be
Em         G            D               C
Yeah, here I am, gotta hand it to me, I can write a tune
Em      G                     C       D       C       Em
I guess success just still depends on who I'm singing to


[Instrumental]

Em  G  D  C     C  G   D  D


[Verse]

Em                                C
Been working hard, feeling tense, worrying about my fashion sense
           G                        D
Since when do I give up an inch to incidental tackiness?
Em                        C 
I'm disoriented, so distracted from my bit
              G                                D
But should I fight to force the issue when I'm out of lubricant

Em                                C
To help this? To help my words come easy, to help to ease the heat we
 G                                 D
Generate from friction, wishin' inspiration wouldn't treat me
Em                          C
Like I'm a leper, build me right up to the edge
           G                          D
Of a legend just to pull back leaving fame inside my head

Em                    C
I'm at an open mic, feeling like that token guy
   G                          D
"Please buy my CD, it's worth 10 dollars but I'll take a five"
Em                                C
There's so much talent balanced on a rusty knife
           G                                    D
Can I compete with guys who have been playing their entire lives?

Em                          C
For I am tied to mind my manners and my language
           G                        D
‘Cause “heck”'s the only exclamation I can get away with
Em                                         C
‘Cause my grandma's gonna listen to this and I still refuse
     G                           D
To sway her sweet opinion of me or lose her approval

Em                                C
But it'd be nice to emphasise the weight of what I say
           G                        D
Tell me which one will convince you that I'm finally okay; I'm Okay or I'm Goddamn Okay?


[Chorus]

Em         G           D                           C
And here I am as I cut corners on a left turn up a sentimental street
Em         G           D                           C
And all I do I do to make my parents proud of who I am or who I'm 'bout to be
Em         G            D               C
Yeah, here I am, gotta hand it to me, I can write a tune
Em      G                     C       D       C       Em
I guess success just still depends on who I'm singing to


[Instrumental]

Em  G  D  C     C  G   D  D


[Verse]

Em                      C
I'm not a gambler but I bet you're esoteric
        G                               D
Tearing down these local artists as too poppy or generic
Em                                      C
It's apparent you regard your judgement in such high esteem
            G                           D
But it's as welcome as Americans as tourists overseas, I'm seeing

Em                      C
I'm seeing people asking where they go to find my stuff
        G                          D
And yeah I'm up on iTunes next to every band with 30 bucks
Em                      C
A dozen albums sold, to me it's like a treasure
        G                                  D
But I guess I'm far from Guinness, I'm not setting any records

Em                               C
I'm making Indie music that may never top the charts
              G                                D
But like the greatest chefs'll tell you, my fanbase is getting larger
Em                       C
I'm half a hermit, introverted if I'm honest
        G                               D
The fact I'm here's a testament to how badly I want it

Em                               C
‘Cause I, I've no aversion to searching, to look and wonder
        G                               D
Or to try out different styles or to leave my zone of comfort
Em                                                   C
‘cause I can flirt with burning candles but they'll either all extinguish
        G                               D
Or they'll blacken all my fingers ‘til I lose all sense of feeling, I like

Em                      C
I like my girls like I like my schedule: Hectic
        G                                 D
I like beauty, smarts and talent but that order's alphabetic
Em                              C
I'm a sucker for an independent girl who needs her space
        G                               D
Because I used to cling like static back when I was a teenager

Em                      C
I may never recapture the happiness of that first love
        G                               D
'cause I was unaware of what a heartache really was
Em                              C
So now I guard a little harder, lusting for a crush
        G                               D
And I can see it's so unhealthy when it bubbles up at once

Em                                       C
I'm not breaking any ground, I think this problem's pretty ancient
        G                               D
It's the fabric of a classic passed down every generation
Em                                   C
So to summarise this song for all the people that've been watching this;
   G                       D
Find another artist if you don't like stream of consciousness


[Instrumental]

Em  G  D  C


[Chorus]

Em         G           D                           C
And here I am as I cut corners on a left turn up a sentimental street
Em         G           D                           C
And all I do I do to make my parents proud of who I am or who I'm 'bout to be
Em         G            D                           C
Yeah, here I am, gotta hand it to me, I can write a tune
Em      G                     C       D       C       Em
I guess success just still depends on who I'm singing to