G Bm C G
Oh I am just a student, sir, and only want to learn
Bm C
But it`s hard to read through the risin` smoke of the books that
D
you like to burn
G Bm C G
So I`d like to make a promise and I`d like to make a vow
C G D G
That when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
[ Guy Matz says these chords are
not quite right. Here is his take ]
C Am F C
Oh I am just a student, sir, and only want to learn
E Am D
But it`s hard to read through the risin` smoke of the books that
G
you like to burn
C E Am G
So I`d like to make a promise and I`d like to make a vow
C Am F G C
That when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
[And James Barnett disagrees with both, giving this ]
D Bm G D
Oh I am just a student, sir, and only want to learn
F# Bm
But it`s hard to read through the risin` smoke from the
E7 A
books that you like to burn
D F#m G
So I`d like to make a promise and I`d like to make a
A D Bm G
vow That when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna
A D
say it now
Oh you`ve given me a number and you`ve taken off my name
To get around this campus why you almost need a plane
And you`re supporting Chang Kai-Shek, while I`m supporting Mao
So when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
I wish that you`d make up your mind, I wish that you`d decide
That I should live as freely as those who live outside
Cause we also are entitled to the rights to be endowed
And when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
Ooh, you`d like to be my father you`d like to be my Dad
And give me kisses when I`m good and spank me when I`m bad
But since I`ve left my parents I`ve forgotten how to bow
So when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
And things they might be different if I was here alone
But I`ve got a friend or two who no longer live at home
And we`ll respect our elders just as long as they allow
That when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
I`ve read of other countries where the students take a stand
Maybe even help to overthrow the leaders of the land
Now I wouldn`t go so far to say we`re also learnin` how
But when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
So keep right on a-talkin` and tell us what to do
If nobody listens my apologies to you
And I know that you were younger once `cause you sure are older now
And when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
Oh I am just a student sir, and only want to learn
But it`s hard to read through the risin` smoke from the books
that you like to burn
So I`d like to make a promise and I`d like to make a vow
That when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
[ Additional verse, 1974 ]
So I am just a trucker, sir, and I only want to learn
But it`s hard to read the the rise of the smoke
From the fuel that you like to burn
So I`d like to make a promise and I`d like to make a vow
That when I`ve got something to say, sir, I`m gonna say it now
