Half A Man

Written by: Randy Newman
From: “Born Again” (1978)
Tabbed by: maguri
Tuning: Standard

CHORDS
          E-A-D-G-B-e
Fm(maj7)  x-x-3-5-5-4
G/D       x-x-0-4-3-3
A/E       0-x-2-2-2-0
D/C       x-3-x-2-3-2
D*        x-x-0-7-7-5
E/D       x-x-0-4-5-4
A/G       3-x-2-2-2-x
A/F#      2-x-2-2-2-x

Intro

| D Fm(maj7) | Fm(maj7) |
| D Fm(maj7) | Fm(maj7) |

Verse 1

D
  This big old queen was standing
G
  On the corner of the street
A                                         | D | D    G/D |
   Waved his hanky at me as I went rolling by
D
  I pulled the truck up on the sidewalk
G
  And I climbed down from the cab
A/E                           D/C
    With my tire-chain and my knife

Verse 2

D
   As I approached him
G
   He was trembling like a bird
A                           | D  E/D   | D  E/D    |
   Raised the chain above my head
D
  He said, "Please, before you kill me
G
   Might I have one final word?"
A7                     D
   And this is what he said:

Chorus

         Bm          D       E
"I am but half a man, half a man
A/G               A/F#
 I'd like to be a dancer
        Bm
But I'm much too large
Bm           D       E
  Half a man, half a man
A/G                 A/F#           Bm
 An object for your pity, not your rage"

Instrumental

| D | % | G | % |
| A7 | % | D | % |
| D | % | G | % |
| A7 | % | D | % |

Verse 3

D                             G
  Oh, the strangest feeling's sweeping over me
A                                            D
  Both my speech and manner have become much more refined
D                                            G
  I said, "Oh, what is this feeling? What is wrong with me?"
A                                     D
  She said, "Girl, it happens all the time

Chorus

            Bm          D       E
"Now you are half a man, half a man
A/G                  A/F#
 Look, you're walking and you're talking
Bm
Like a fag."
Bm                D       E
  Half a man, I am half a man
A/G    A/F#          Bm
  Holy Jesus, what a drag