The major part of the song is D - A - G - G, through the intro and verses and most of the choruses. The pre-chorus and the other part of the choruses ("I wanna be oversexed...") is Em - G - Am - Am. These are all open chords played on an acoustic. VERSE 1 Look around outside Ain't nothin' to do but hang around Thinkin' 'bout all the stupid things that I've done I guess I ain't nothin' but a clown PRE-CHORUS And if I had a wish, I swear I'd wish, I'd wish for just one thing And I don't even think about all the things my wish'd bring, cause... CHORUS I just wanna be James Dean I just wanna be James Dean I just wanna be James Dean ...For a day I wanna be oversexed and underworked and look at me, I'm such a jerk And I just wanna be James Dean ...For a day VERSE 2 Think about stories of the actors and the movie stars Sittin' here watchin' the old men drinkin' at the bar I think about Dean and all the things he shoulda tried I think about Dean and all the ways he coulda die Yeah, died... PRE-CHORUS And I wouldn't give a shit about anything cause I'd be such a big movie star But that don't really do me much good just cryin' at the bar CHORUS I just wanna be James Dean I just wanna be James Dean I just wanna be James Dean ...For a day See but I'm overworked and undersexed and look at me, I'm such a wreck And I just wanna be James Dean ...For a day VERSE 3 I'm goin' crazy cause I'm always all alone I'm goin' crazy, no one calls me on the phone I think about Dean and I know Dean he wouldn't care If I was Dean I know there'd be somebody there Yeah, there'd be somebody there for me Yeah I think about all the really cool things I could do and say And then you go and tell me that you found out Dean was gay... No... CHORUS I don't wanna be James Dean I don't wanna be James Dean I don't wanna be James Dean ...Anymore... CHORDS: D : x x 0 2 3 2 A : x 0 2 2 2 0 G : 3 2 0 0 3 3 Em: 0 2 2 0 0 0 Am: x 0 2 2 1 0