Independence

Words and Music by Jeff Stone

From Jeff Stone's "Three of a Trilogy"

For more songs go to jeffstone.com


In the key of A, there is a bass and guitar riff that goes a g# a c d e g g# and is repeated 
several times.  On the bass, the riff continues throughout most of the song, changing
key with most changes of chords.  Listen and become familiar with the song before attempting.

Key  Notes
A:   a g# a c d e g g#
B:   b a# b d e f# a a#
G:   g f# g a# c d f f#
C:   c b c d# f g a# b
F:   f e f g# a# c d# e
D:   d c# d f g a c c#
A#:  a# a a# c# d# f g# a 
D#:  d# d d# f# g# a# c# d


Here are the guitar chords:


 A
"You are
           B
Completely bizarre"



No.


G                        C                                G
I make you angry for the simple fact that it is difficult for you to get 
            C                                  G                             
me to play along and what the hell good reason do you have to get so angry 
   C                Am                F          
at me for not being willing to follow your


D
Collective


G
Mind?
               A
In fact, yes I do
F                             A#                                  F
When I was in public school I thought it had to end and then when I was at 
                     A#                                F
my high school I was sure that it would end and then I went to university 
    A#                    Gm             D#       C
and thought that it would end and then I worked.
Am                      D                               Am
And at my office it was like I was in high school and I looked right at my 
             D    
family and I saw that they were in it there are 
Am
Leaders 

Enforcers

Followers 
    D                Em   C      Am     D  D7      
And outcasts who get everybody's crap

                                             (Bassists, the next part does not involve the riff.)

   G   C         G   C        G        C        G    C        G  
So I declared my independence from the sneering followers who base their 
C     G       C       G    Em       F#     f# g a f#
daily actions on what everyone will think
     B                   B a b
Well what's the point?
     A                    
Yes, what's the point?
     A                  g     a
It's not like the world would just stop turning
F           G             A
If everyone decided to be free


A
I
          B
I lower myself
G                                C                                  G
When I've tried to fit in I have merely looked pathetic 'cause when I have 
                       C                               G
tried to fit in I have really been pathetic and that's not because I am it's 
           C           Am            F
'cause the very act of fitting in is loss
D
Of 
G
Self
              A
One cell at a time
F                             A#                               F
And you are measured for your job and for your lovers and your friends by 
                           A#                                F
how you don't stand out or lead in such a way that you stand out a bit but 
                A#                    Gm            D#     C
not too much to make things less-than-comfy for the rest

But
Am                           D                                     Am
When you are old or sick and can't keep up to speed then they will drop you 
                             D                                   Am 
they will leave you back and let us hope that those who love you really 
                           D              Em    C      Am    D D7 
love you 'cause the system makes an awful buddy in the end
   G   C         G   C        G        C        G    C        G     
So I declared my independence from the sneering followers who base their 
C     G       C       G   C         G   C        G        C        G    C
daily actions on this I declared my independence from the sneering followers 
    G          C     G       C       G   C         G   C        G    
who base their daily actions on this I declared my independence from the 
C        G    C        G          C     G       C       G    Em       F#     f# g a f#
sneering followers who base their daily actions on what everyone will think
      B                 B a b
Well, what's the point
     A                 
Yes, what's the point
A                       g     a
It's not like the world would just stop turning
F             G
If everyone decided to be
F             G
If everyone decided they were
F             G
If everyone decided they were
A
Free.



Music and lyrical structure: copyright 2000 Jeff Stone, Full song: 

copyright 2002 Jeff Stone, All Rights Reserved