Most of the tabs on the web for this track are decent but forget the Em builds in
a couple verses as well as the correct descending chord pattern in the chorus.
Steven Page played the song minus the capo which are the chords presented here
while Ed Robertson played it with a capo on the fifth fret (D, A, G, Bm)
Barenaked Ladies - What a Good Boy
[Verse 1]
G D
When I was born, they looked at me and said
Cadd9
what a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.
G D
And when you were born, they looked at you and said,
Cadd9
what a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl.
G D
We've got these chains that hang around our necks,
Cadd9
people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.
G D
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same,
Cadd9
when temptation calls, we just look away.
[Chorus]
G D
This name is the hairshirt I wear,
Cadd9 D
and this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair.
G D
This song is the cross that I bear,
Cadd9
bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me,
D G G/F# Em C
be with me tonight,
G G/F# Em C
I know that it isn't right,
but be with me tonight.
[Verse 2]
G D
I go to school, I write exams,
Cadd9
if I pass, if I fail, if I drop out, does anyone give a damn?
G D
And if they do, they'll soon forget
Cadd9
'cause it won't take much for me to show my life ain't over yet.
G D
I wake up scared, I wake up strange.
Cadd9
I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever going to change.
G D Em
I wake up scared, I wake up strange
Cadd9 G
and everything around me stays the same.
[Chorus]
D
...its the hairshirt I wear,
Cadd9 D
and this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair.
G D
This song is the cross that I bear,
Cadd9
bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me,
D G G/F# Em C
be with me tonight,
G G/F# Em C G G/F# Em C
I know that it isn't right,
but be with me tonight.
[Verse 3]
G D
I couldn't tell you that I was wrong,
Cadd9
chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song.
G D
I couldn't tell you that you were right,
Cadd9
so instead I looked in the mirror, watched TV, laid awake all night.
G D
We've got these chains, hang 'round our necks,
Cadd9
people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.
G D
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same
Cadd9
when temptation calls ...
[Chorus]
G D
This name is the hairshirt I wear,
Cadd9 D
and this hairshirt is woven from - is woven from - is woven from hair
G D
This song is the cross that I bear,
Cadd9
bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me,
D
be with me tonight,
[Verse 4]
G D
When I was born, they looked at me and said;
Cadd9
What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.
G D
And when you were born, they looked at you and said;
Em Cadd9 G
what a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl, hey
