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...