Intro: ( G Am C D ) x4

 G                                         Am
They pulled in just behind the bridge, he lays her down, he frowns
  C                              D
"Gee my life's a funny thing, am I still too young?"
G                                           Am
He kissed her then and there, she took his ring, took his babies
     C                                   D
It took him minutes, took her nowhere, heaven knows she'd 've taken anything, but

 C    D                                  G                        Am
All night, she wants the young American, young American, young American
                               C   D
She wants the young American, all right, she wants the young American

  G                                            Am
Scanning life through the picture window, she finds the slinky vagabond
     C                                        D
He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang, but heaven forbid she'll take anything
G                                         Am
But the freak and his type, all for nothing, he misses a step and cuts his hand but
C                                                 D
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song, she cries, "where have all Papa's heroes gone?"

 C    D                                  G                        Am
All night, she wants the young American, young American, young American
                                    C   D
She wants the young American, it's all right, she wants the young American

G                                 Am
All the way from Washington, her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
    C                                    D
We live for just these twenty years, do we have to die for the fifty more?"

 C    D                                G                         Am
All night, he wants the young American, young American, young American
                              C   D
He wants the young American, all right, he wants the young American

Interlude: (Em - D C - D) x2

Em       Bm    G                 D     Em         Bm         C
Do you remember, your President Nixon?  do you remember the bills you have to pay?
         B
Or even yesterday?

Break: A Bm C - D  Bm E

A                            Bm
Have you been the un-American, just you and your idol sing falsetto 'bout
D                                 E
Leather, leather everywhere, and not a myth left from the Ghetto
A                                       Bm
Well, well, well would you carry a razor, in a case, just in case of depression?
D                                          E
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors, blushing at all the afro-sheeners
A                               Bm
Ain't that close to love?  well ain't that poster love? 
     D                                E
Well it ain't that Barbie Doll, her heart's been broken just like you

 D  E                                 A                         Bm
All night, you want the young American, young American, young American
                                   D   E
You want the young American, it's all right, you want the young American

A                                            Bm
You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler, a pimps got a Caddy and lady got a Chrysler
D                                                 E
Black's got respect, white's got his Soul Train, Mama's got cramps and look at your hands shake
A                           Bm
"I heard the news today, oh boy" I got a suite and you got defeat
D                                               E
Ain't there a man, who could say no more?  and ain't there a woman I can sock on the jaw?
A
Ain't there a child, I can hold without judging?
Bm
Ain't there a pen that will write before they die?
D
Ain't you proud that you've still got faces?
     E  (NC)
And ain't there one damn song that can make me, break down and cry?

 D   E                              A                         Bm
All night, I want the young American, young American, young American,I want the young American