When he was a (Em) man, my (Em7) father would (C) stand
I (C) never saw him (Em) run
There wasn't (Em7) anyone could (A) make the man (C) bend
And the (Em) strength of his (D) will was the (C) tool of his (A) trade
And (Em) he did his work well
Til the powers that (Em7) be took a (A) liking to (C) him
And they (Em) traded his (D) body for a (C) cold empty (A) shell

Don't beat me (Em) down, (Em7) (A) (C) (Em) (Em7) (A) (C)
Don't beat me (Em) down, (Em7) (A) (C) (Em) (Em7) (A) (C)
I've got (Em) something to (Em7) say, don't you (A) stand in my (C) way
And don't beat me (Em) down (Em7) (A) (C) (Em) (Em7) (A) (C)

When I was a youth, I found the truth in the eyes of a friend
There wasn't anyone could make the light dim
And we talked and we rambled and we gambled to win
And the learning was good, til the powers that be to a liking to him
And they traded their fortunes for the sight of his blood

When I was a child my mother smiled at the cradle she bought
For the little tot she held to her breast
And the song that she sang was an anthem to love
It was all that I heard, til the powers that be took a liking to me
And they told me that love was a four-letter word

Don't beat me down, don't beat me down
I've got one life to live and that's all I can give, so don't beat me down

Now I've got a place, got a worried face and the question in mind
Please let me find a reason somehow
While some reap the harvest while other men die
And the joker runs wild and if powers that be take a liking to us
Then we all must return to the ways of a child
We all must return to the ways of a child

So don't beat me down, don't beat me down
I've got something to say, don't you stand in my way and don't beat me down
I've got one life to life and that's all I can give
So don't beat me down, don't beat me down, don't beat me down