Intro: 
 
        12-string {2X, doubled with bass second time} 
 
            v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
        --|-----------------|-----------------| 
        --|-----------------|-----------------| 
        --|-----------------|-----------------| 
        3-|-5-----3-5-----3-|-5-3-----------3-| 
        --|-----------------|-----5-3-5-------| 
        --|-----------------|-----------------| 
 
        12-string {2X; continue through verse}: 
 
        {Dm}     G       Dm    G 
          v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
        |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
        |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
        |---------3---5---|-6---6---5-3-----|-- 
        |-----5-5---------|-------------5-3-|-5 
        |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
        |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
 
        bass: 
 
          v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
        |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
        |---------5---7---|---------5---7---|-- 
        |-5---5-5---------|-5---5-5---------|-- 
        |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
 
Verse 1: 
 
                Dm        G           Dm       G 
        It's a hard world   to get a break in 
                 Dm         G            Dm     G 
        All the good things   have been taken 
 
             Dm           C    Bb           C 
              v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
            |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
            |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
            |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
            |---------3---5---|-5---5---5-3-----|-- 
            |-5---5-----------|--------------5--|-- 
            |-----------------|-----------------|-- 
        (But girl...) 
 
            Dm                      C    Bb        
        But girl there are ways to make certain things pay 
               C    Dm                         C    Bb 
        Though I'm dressed in these rags I'll wear sable 
              C 
        Some day 
          D         
        Hear what I... 
 
          G                 F 
          v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v     
        |-----------------|-----------------| 
        |-----------------|-----------------| 
        |-------4-5---4---|-------2-3---2---| 
        |-5---------------|-3---------------| 
        |-----------------|-----------------| 
        |-----------------|-----------------| 
        (say) 
 
            G     F                     G 
        ...say      I'm gonna ride the serpent 
        F                   G 
        No more time spent sweatin' rent 
        F {3 bars} 
        Hear my command I'm breakin' loose 
                     G 
        It ain't no use 
         F {2 bars} 
        Holdin' me down 
         G {3 bars} 
        Stick around 
        But baby (but baby) 
        Remember (remember) 
 
Chorus: 
 
        C        Dm           F          G 
        It's my life and I'll do what I want 
        C        Dm             F          G 
        It's my mind and I'll think what I want 
        F             G 
        Show me I'm wrong 
        F             G 
        Hurt you sometime 
              F                          G    F  G 
        But someday I'll treat you real fine 
 
Verse 2: 
 
        There'll be women and their fortunes 
        Who just love to mother orphans 
        Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' 'em dry 
        Takin' all I can get, no regrets 
        When I... 
        Openly lie 
        And leave only money 
        Believe me honey, that money 
        Can you believe, I ain't no saint 
        Who complains 
        So girl cut out 
        Any doubt 
        But baby (but baby) 
        Remember (remember) 
 
{repeat Chorus} 
 
Coda: 
 
          C       Dm           F          G 
        (It's my life and I'll do what I want) Don't push me 
        (It's my mind and I'll think what I want) It's my life 
        (It's my life and I'll do what I want) And I can do what I want 
        (It's my mind and I'll think what I want) You can't tell me 
        (It's my life and I'll do what I want) {fade}