Open:  G - Em (4x's)


        G            Em
By the time I was thirteen 

G                 Em
I started taking shape

G                       Em
At eighteen I was so beautiful 

             G                 Em
That the strangers started to gape


             G                  Em
They said "Enter the ultimate contest, 

                G             Em
If you're as gorgeous as you seem" 

              G       D       C       D
They said "Please, please, please, please 

Em
Be our American dream."


     Am                           Am/G
But late that night beneath the grieving moon

            Am/F#              Am/F
There's a dazzling sight in my motel room

         Em                   Emmaj7
For a grunting judge with his bulging eyes

  Em7                   Em7/13        
I give my all for his cherished prize. 

    C   G/B - Am - G
Oh why, 

    D    D/C - G/B
oh why? 


 D          G
I'm Miss America 

  D       G
Crying on TV

  C             Bm
Silver clad in satin rags

        Em                  Am
But everything's where it should be 

    D           C       D           G    Em - G - Em - G - Em - G - Em
Oh say can you see, ah say can you see.


       G          Em           G      Em
After they showed me the game ball 

 G           Em       G       Em
They told me put on weight

 G           Em        G      Em
They told me I'd be powerful

 G           Em       G      Em
They told me I'd be great


         G   Em             G   Em
And my Uncle Sam he would coach me

      G    Em     G     Em
His helmet on my head

                 G       D       C       D
And They said "Please, please, please, please 

  Em
Please win and beat the spread


        Am                      Am/G
But the new game plan that the owners had made
  
          Am/F#                   Am/F
Meant that win or lose there would be a trade

         Em            Emmaj7
For the team's become a real gold mine 

         Em7                   Em7/13
And the kid's sold off for the bottom line.

    C   G/B - Am - G
Oh why, 

    D    D/C - G/B
oh why? 
 

D      G       D        G
Mr. America sweating on TV 

       C                   Bm
The winners joy from the battered boy 

        Em                  Am
For everything's where it should be

    D           C       D           G    Em - G - Em - G - Em - G - Em
Oh say can you see, ah say can you see.


    G          Em     G        Em
At last we've come together 

           G         Em    G    Em
Call it marriage or civil war 

   G         Em      G     Em
If it brings us to battle babe 

    G       Em          G     Em
It must be worth our fighting for 


         G    Em       G      Em
Though today came up cloudy 

       G       Em    G
There will be other days

              G       D       C       D
They said "Please, please, please, please 

Em
What else is there to say?"


           Am                 Am/G
But in a plywood spread by a plastic stream

         Am/F#                Am/F
And in separate beds with a borrowed dream

            Em                  Emmaj7
And with questions wide and the silence deep

   Em7                  Em7/13
We take two pills so at last we'll sleep

    C   G/B - Am - G
Oh why, 

    D    D/C - G/B
oh why? 


 D              G
Mr. and Mrs. America 

 D             G
Our story's on TV

 C                    Bm
Can you hear canned laughter

        Em                  Am
For everything's where it should be 

    D           C       D           G    Em - G - Em - G - Em - G - Em
Oh say can you see, ah say can you see.


           G    Em      G         Em
Well, my little boy he told me something 

 G        Em     G     Em
Just the other night

       G     Em        G    Em
He whispered it as I kissed him 

       G        Em        G     Em
Before I turned out the light 


         G        Em       G      Em
And of course he said it simple

    G      Em     G
As only children can

          G       D      C      D
He said "Daddy, daddy, daddy, please

               G     Em      
I'm ready to dream again."

G - Em - G - Em [repeat and fade]