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Im Gonna Be An Engineer
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GWhen I was a G6little girl, I Gwished I was a G6boy.
GI tagged along beG6hind the gang and Gwore me corduroG6ys.
GEv'rybody said I only did it to annoy,
but I was A7gonna be an enginD7eer.
GMama told me, "Can't you be a Ala - Bdy?
Your Cduty is to Gmake me the Ammother of a D7pearl.
GWait until you're older, dear, and B7may - C7be
Gyou'll be glad that D7you're a Ggirl."
EmDainty as a BmDresden Emstatue,
gentle as a Jersey Bmcow -
CmSmooth as silk, gives Gcreamy milk.
CLearn to coo. GLearn to moo.
BmThat's what to do to be a Amlady nD7ow.
GWhen I G6went to school, I Glearned to write and how to G6read,
GSome History, G6Geography, and GHome EconoG6my.
GAnd typing is a G6skill that every Ggirl is sure to nG6eed
GTo while away G6the extra time Guntil the time to brG6eed.
GAnd then they had the G6nerve to say,
"What Gwould you like to G6be?"
I says, "I'm A7gonna be an enginD7eer!"
GNo, you only need to learn to be a Ala - Bdy.
The dCuty isn't yGours for to Amtry and run the D7world.
GAn engineer could never have a B7ba - C7by!
GRemember, dear, that D7you're a Ggirl.
GSo I become a G6typist and I Gstudy on the G6sly.
GWorking out the dG6ay and night so GI can qualiG6fy,
GAnd every time the G6boss come in, he Gpinched me on the G6thigh,
Says, "I've nA7ever had an enginD7eer!"
GYou owe it to the job to be a Ala - Bdy.
It's the dCuty of the Gstaff for to gAmive the boss a wD7hirl.
GThe wages that you get are crummy, B7may - C7be,
GBut it's all you get, 'cD7ause you'Gre a girl.
EmShe's smart! (Bmfor a Emwoman). I wonder how she got that Bmway?
You gCmet no choice, you Gget no voice,
CJust stay mum, prGetend you're dumb,
BmThat's how you come to be a Amlady tD7oday!
GThen Jimmy came G6along and we Gset up a conjugatG6ion;
GWe were busy eG6very night with lGoving recreatG6ion.
GI spent my day at wG6ork so he could Gget his educatiG6on,
And now A7he's an engineD7er!
GHe says "I know you'll always be a Ala - Bdy.
It's the dCuty of my dGarling to lAmove me all my liD7fe.
GCould an engineer look after or oB7bey mC7e?
GRemember, dear, that yD7ou're my Gwife!"
GAs soon as Jimmy G6got a job, I Gstudied hard agaG6in.
GThen, busy at my tG6urret-lathe a Gyear or so, and tG6hen,
GThe morning that the tG6wins were born, GJimmy says to theG6m,
"Kids, your A7mother was an engineD7er."
GYou owe it to the kids to be a Ala - Bdy,
DCainty as a dGishrag, faiAmthful as a D7chow.
GStay at home; you got to mind the B7ba - C7by.
GRemember, you're a mD7other Gnow.
GEvery time I G6turn around there's sGomething else to G6do -
GCook a meal or mG6end a sock or Gsweep a floor or G6two.
GListen in to JG6immy Young - it Gmakes me want to sG6pew!
I was A7gonna be an engineD7er!
GI really wish that I could be a Ala - Bdy;
CI could do the lGovely things that a Amlady's s'posed to D7do.
GI wouldn't even mind, if only they would B7pay C7me
GAnd I could be a pD7erson tGoo!
EmWhat price - fBmor a wEmoman? You can buy her for a ring oBmf gold;
To Cmlove and obey (witGhout any pay);
You get a Ccook and a nurse (for Gbetter or worse).
BmYou don't need a purse when a Amlady iD7s sold.
GBut now that timG6es are harder aGnd my Jimmy's got the G6sack,
GI went down to G6Vickers. They were Gglad to have me baG6ck;
GI'm a third-class G6citizen, my wGages tell me thG6at,
But I'm a A7first class engineD7er!
GThe boss, he says, "I pay you as a Ala - Bdy;
YCou only got the Gjob 'cause I Amcan't afford a D7man.
GWith you I keep the profits as high as B7may C7be;
GYou're just a cheaper D7pair of haGnds!"
EmYou got one fault! BmYou're a wEmoman. You're not worth equal Bmpay.
A bCmitch or a tart, you're Gnothing but heart;
SChallow and vain, you Ggot no brain;
BmGo down the drain like a Amlady toD7day!
GI listened to my G6mother and I Gjoined a typing pG6ool;
GI listened to my G6lover and I put Ghim through his schoG6ol;
GIf I listen to the G6boss, I'm Gjust a bloody foG6ol -
And an underA7paid engineeD7r!
GI been a sucker ever since I was a Aba - Bby,
As a Cdaughter, as a lGover, as a mAmother and a "D7dear,"
GBut I'll fight them as a woman, not a B7la - C7dy,
GI'll fight them as an D7engineGer.
All chords in this song (13)
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Im Gonna Be An Engineer
by Peggy Seeger
Chords in this song · guitar
G
G6
A7
D7
A
B
C
Am
B7
C7
Em
Bm
Cm
G G6 G G6
When I was a little girl, I wished I was a boy.
G G6 G G6
I tagged along behind the gang and wore me corduroys.
G
Ev'rybody said I only did it to annoy,
A7 D7
but I was gonna be an engineer.
G A B
Mama told me, "Can't you be a la - dy?
C G Am D7
Your duty is to make me the mother of a pearl.
G B7 C7
Wait until you're older, dear, and may - be
G D7 G
you'll be glad that you're a girl."
Em Bm Em
Dainty as a Dresden statue,
Bm
gentle as a Jersey cow -
Cm G
Smooth as silk, gives creamy milk.
C G
Learn to coo. Learn to moo.
Bm Am D7
That's what to do to be a lady now.
G G6 G G6
When I went to school, I learned to write and how to read,
G G6 G G6
Some History, Geography, and Home Economy.
G G6 G G6
And typing is a skill that every girl is sure to need
G G6 G G6
To while away the extra time until the time to breed.
G G6
And then they had the nerve to say,
G G6
"What would you like to be?"
A7 D7
I says, "I'm gonna be an engineer!"
G A B
No, you only need to learn to be a la - dy.
C G Am D7
The duty isn't yours for to try and run the world.
G B7 C7
An engineer could never have a ba - by!
G D7 G
Remember, dear, that you're a girl.
G G6 G G6
So I become a typist and I study on the sly.
G G6 G G6
Working out the day and night so I can qualify,
G G6 G G6
And every time the boss come in, he pinched me on the thigh,
A7 D7
Says, "I've never had an engineer!"
G A B
You owe it to the job to be a la - dy.
C G Am D7
It's the duty of the staff for to give the boss a whirl.
G B7 C7
The wages that you get are crummy, may - be,
G D7 G
But it's all you get, 'cause you're a girl.
Em Bm Em Bm
She's smart! (for a woman). I wonder how she got that way?
Cm G
You get no choice, you get no voice,
C G
Just stay mum, pretend you're dumb,
Bm Am D7
That's how you come to be a lady today!
G G6 G G6
Then Jimmy came along and we set up a conjugation;
G G6 G G6
We were busy every night with loving recreation.
G G6 G G6
I spent my day at work so he could get his education,
A7 D7
And now he's an engineer!
G A B
He says "I know you'll always be a la - dy.
C G Am D7
It's the duty of my darling to love me all my life.
G B7 C7
Could an engineer look after or obey me?
G D7 G
Remember, dear, that you're my wife!"
G G6 G G6
As soon as Jimmy got a job, I studied hard again.
G G6 G G6
Then, busy at my turret-lathe a year or so, and then,
G G6 G G6
The morning that the twins were born, Jimmy says to them,
A7 D7
"Kids, your mother was an engineer."
G A B
You owe it to the kids to be a la - dy,
C G Am D7
Dainty as a dishrag, faithful as a chow.
G B7 C7
Stay at home; you got to mind the ba - by.
G D7 G
Remember, you're a mother now.
G G6 G G6
Every time I turn around there's something else to do -
G G6 G G6
Cook a meal or mend a sock or sweep a floor or two.
G G6 G G6
Listen in to Jimmy Young - it makes me want to spew!
A7 D7
I was gonna be an engineer!
G A B
I really wish that I could be a la - dy;
C G Am D7
I could do the lovely things that a lady's s'posed to do.
G B7 C7
I wouldn't even mind, if only they would pay me
G D7 G
And I could be a person too!
Em Bm Em Bm
What price - for a woman? You can buy her for a ring of gold;
Cm G
To love and obey (without any pay);
C G
You get a cook and a nurse (for better or worse).
Bm Am D7
You don't need a purse when a lady is sold.
G G6 G G6
But now that times are harder and my Jimmy's got the sack,
G G6 G G6
I went down to Vickers. They were glad to have me back;
G G6 G G6
I'm a third-class citizen, my wages tell me that,
A7 D7
But I'm a first class engineer!
G A B
The boss, he says, "I pay you as a la - dy;
C G Am D7
You only got the job 'cause I can't afford a man.
G B7 C7
With you I keep the profits as high as may be;
G D7 G
You're just a cheaper pair of hands!"
Em Bm Em Bm
You got one fault! You're a woman. You're not worth equal pay.
Cm G
A bitch or a tart, you're nothing but heart;
C G
Shallow and vain, you got no brain;
Bm Am D7
Go down the drain like a lady today!
G G6 G G6
I listened to my mother and I joined a typing pool;
G G6 G G6
I listened to my lover and I put him through his school;
G G6 G G6
If I listen to the boss, I'm just a bloody fool -
A7 D7
And an underpaid engineer!
G A B
I been a sucker ever since I was a ba - by,
C G Am D7
As a daughter, as a lover, as a mother and a "dear,"
G B7 C7
But I'll fight them as a woman, not a la - dy,
G D7 G
I'll fight them as an engineer.
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About Im Gonna Be An Engineer Chords by Peggy Seeger
Learn how to play Im Gonna Be An Engineer by Peggy Seeger with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Im Gonna Be An Engineer chords”, “Im Gonna Be An Engineer guitar chords”, or “Peggy Seeger Im Gonna Be An Engineer chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Im Gonna Be An Engineer chords and for experienced players who want accurate Im Gonna Be An Engineer lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, G6, A7, D7, A, B.
FAQ — Im Gonna Be An Engineer by Peggy Seeger
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