IntroBC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
B
Cry for the young man
C#
Who's fighting for your mind
E
Cry for the old man
B
Who's just passed its time
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
Oh, tell me why...
VerseBC#
Tell me why the leaves, will they fall with your breath
EB
And if the leaves don't fall, they leave your breath to rest
BC#
Your rebellion puts he up to the test
E
To the nation for evaluation
BC#
While she wild with their radio station
EB
Now I'm done playing their game, oh, yeah
BC#EB
Just searching for shade and you could tie that your tired mind that you break up to the side
ChorusBC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
B
Cry for the young man
C#
Who's fighting for your mind
E
Cry for the old man
B
Who's just passed its time
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
Oh, tell me why...
Verse 2BC#E
Die with the mass man, the gas man, the tax man
BC#
He springs taxes on tax men while reaching out with their own hands
E
Singing to the systematic
B
Static television addict
B
Sitting on your attic
C#EB
Can't seem to see all the plastic in the water bay
C#E
You wouldn't want that for your daughter babe
B
Technological advances make no logical advances
C#E
Forget what you learned that you know that I love for you to
ChorusBC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
B
Cry for the young man
C#
Who's fighting for your mind
E
Cry for the old man
B
Who's just passed its time
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
Oh, tell me why...
ChorusBC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
B
Cry for the young man
C#
Who's fighting for your mind
E
Cry for the old man
B
Who's just passed its time
BC#
Tell me why, tell me why
EB
You ain't living but you do not die
This arrangement for the song is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this for private study, scholarship, or research.