That's Not Me


Original Album
Pet Sounds
Written By
Brian Wilson/Tony Asher
Produced By
Brian Wilson
Lead Vocals
Mike on the verses (joined by Brian on the choruses)
Recorded On
February 15, 1966
Length
2:27
Notes
  • Recorded at Western Studios
  • Brian says in his notes to the 1966 CD release that this song "was so great that I couldn't get enough listens." I agree.
  • Lyrics deal with the search for love and acceptance, the primary Pet Sounds theme.
Lyrics
I had to prove that I could make it alone
But that's not me
I wanted to show how independent I'd grown now
But that's not me

I could try to be big in the eyes of the world
What matters to me is what I could be to just one girl

I'm a little bit scared
Cause I haven't been home in a long time
You needed my love
And I know that I left at the wrong time
My folks when I wrote them
Told 'em what I was up to said that's not me

I went through all kinds of changes
Took a look at myself and said that's not me
I miss my pad and the places I've known
And every night as I lay there alone I will dream

I once had a dream
So I packed up and split for the city
I soon found out that my lonely life wasn't so pretty
I'm glad I went now I'm that much more sure that we're ready

I once had a dream
So I packed up and split for the city
I soon found out that my lonely life wasn't so pretty

I once had a dream
So I packed up and split for the city
I soon found out that my lonely life wasn't so pretty
Chords
A6.............................................................................E7sus4........E7
I had to prove that I could make it alone now but that's not me
.....A6.............................................................................. E7sus4.........E7
I wanted to show how independent I'd grown now but that's not me
.............Bm7/F#...................E7
I could try to be big in the eyes of the world
...........Bm7/F#................E7.......................C#m7.........F#maj7....G#m7/F#
What matters to me is what I could be to just one girl

.........F#maj7...........................G#m7/F#......................F#maj7.....G#m7/F#
I'm a little bit scared 'cause I haven't been home in a long time
.........Bmaj7..........................B7...............................Emaj7..........E6
You needed my love and I know that I left at the wrong time

.......A6.......................................................................................E7sus4........E7
My folks when I wrote them told 'em what I was up to said that's not me
..........................A6................................................................................E7sus4.........E7
I went through all kinds of changes took a look at myself and said that's not me
...Bm7/F#.......................E7
I miss my pad and the places I've known
........Bm7/F#.............E7..................................C#m7....F#maj7....G#m7/F#
And every night as I lay there alone I would dream

...F#maj7.......................G#m7/F#..............................F#maj7.....G#m7/F#
I once had a dream so I packed up and split for the city
.........Gmaj7......................Am7/G......................Gmaj7....Am7/G
I soon found out that my lonely life wasn't so pretty
.......Cmaj7..............................C7..........................................F........F7
I'm glad I went now I'm that much more sure that we're ready

...F#maj7........................G#m7/F#.............................F#maj7.....G#m7/F#
I once had a dream so I packed up and split for the city
..F#maj7..........................G#m7/F#....................F#maj7.....G#m7/F#
I soon found out that my lonely life wasn't so pretty


Chart prepared by Francis Greene

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