ELF'S LAMENT Barenaked Ladies CAPO: 2nd fret (key of D) VERSE 1: F G C Am I'm a man of reason, and they say "'Tis the season to be... Dm G C C7 jolly", But it's folly when you volley for position F G C Am Never in existence has there been such a resistance Dm G C C7 To ideas meant to free us, If you could see us, then you'd listen F G C Am Toiling through the ages, making toys on garnished wages Dm G C C7 There's no union, We're only through when we out do the competition CHORUS: F G C C7 I make toys, but I've got aspirations F G C C7 Make some noise, Use your imagination F G C C7 Girls and boys, before you wish for... Dm G what you wish for, There's a list for who's been... Dm C G/B G C F F C C Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf VERSE 2: F G C Am A full indentured servitude can reflect on one's attitude Dm G C C7 But that silly red hat just makes the fat man look outrageous F G C Am Absurd though it may seem, you know, I've heard there's even been illegal... Dm G C C7 doping, And though we're coping, I just hope it's not contagious F G C Am You try to start a movement, and you think you see improvement Dm G C C7 But when thrown into the moment, we just don't seem so courageous CHORUS: F G C C7 I make toys, but I've got aspirations F G C C7 Make some noise, Use your imagination F G C C7 Girls and boys, before you wish for... Dm G what you wish for, There's a list for who's been... Dm C G/B G C Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf BRIDGE: C G/B Gm You look at yourself, You're an elf, and the shelf A F is just filled with disappointing memories C G/B Gm Trends come and go, and your friends wanna know A F Em why you aren't just happy making crappy little gizmos Dm G C F F C C Every kid knows they'll just throw this stuff away VERSE 3: F G C Am We're used to repetition, so we drew up a petition Dm G C C7 We, the undersigned, feel undermined, Let's redefine "employment" F G C Am We know that we've got leverage, so we'll hand the fat man a beverage Dm G C C7 And sit back while we attack the utter lack of our enjoyment F G C Am It may be tough to swallow, but our threats are far from hollow Dm G C C7 He may thunder, but if he blunders, he may wonder where the toys went CHORUS: F G C C7 I make toys, but I've got aspirations F G C C7 Make some noise, Use your imagination F G C C7 Girls and boys, before you wish for... Dm G what you wish for, There's a list for who's been... Dm C G/B G Naughty or nice, but consider the price Dm C G/B G Naughty or nice, but consider the price Dm C G/B G C Naughty or nice, but consider the price to an elf CHORDS: F G C Am Dm C7 G/B Gm A Em e|--1---3---0---0---1---0---3---3---0---0--| B|--1---3---1---1---3---1---3---3---2---0--| G|--2---0---0---2---2---3---0---0---2---0--| D|--3---0---2---2---0---2---0---0---2---2--| A|--3---2---3---0---0---3---2---1---0---2--| E|--1---3---0---X---X---X---X---X---X---0--|