Take Me Or Leave Me

by Jonathan Larson
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Lyrics

Ev ’ry sin gle day,

I walk down the street, I hear peo (Gm)ple say (F)ba

(Bb)by, so sweet.

Ev er since pu (Gm)ber (Am)ty, ev ’ry bod y stares (Am)at (Gm)me: (F)boys, girls, I can’t help it (Eb)ba (F)by.

So be (Dm)kind and don’t (Am7)lose your (Bb)mind.

(Am7)Just re (Gm)mem ber that I’m (Bb)your (F)ba (C)by.

Take me for what (Eb)I am,

who I (Eb)was meant to (Bb)be,

(Dm7)and, if (Am7)you give a damn,

take me (Bb)ba by or leave (Gm)me.

Take me ba (Gm)by (F)or (Eb)leave (Bb)me.

ti ger in cage

can nev er sun, this needs (Gm)her stage, by let’s have (Bb)fun.

the one I

folks would kill to fill (Am)your (Gm)shoes.

(F)You love lime light too, now

(Dm)mine,

(Am7)waste my (Bb)time,

(Am7)cry in’ (Gm)“Oh, hon ey bear, you still (Bb)my, (F)my, ba

Take me for what (Eb)I am,

who I (Eb)was meant to (Bb)be,

(Dm7)and, if (Am7)you give a damn,

take me (Bb)ba by or leave (Gm)me.

Take me ba (Gm)by (F)or (Eb)leave (Bb)me.

or leave me.

No way

can I be what I’m not, but hey, don’t you (F9)want your girl hot?

Don’t fight, (Dm7)don’t lose your head,

’cause ev ’ry night, (C)who’s in your bed?

(F)Who,

who’s

(Gm)in your (F)bed?

Kiss, pook (Bb)ie!

It won’t or leave me.

That’s it,

the straw that breaks my back.

I quit,

un less you take it back.

Wom en, what is it a bout them?

Can’t live

(C)with them or with out them!

Take me for what I (F)am,

who I (F)was meant to be.

(Em7)And if you ev er dare you’d bet (G)ter take me (C)ba by, (Em7)take me please,

take me ba by,

or leave me.

Guess I’m leav in’,

I’m gone.

Take Me Or Leave Me — Piano Accompaniment Track

Free piano accompaniment for "Take Me Or Leave Me" by Jonathan Larson. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. Key of Bb, 116 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Bb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “Take Me Or Leave Me

How do the bar-notation visuals help sing "Take Me Or Leave Me" with this backing?
Each chord change drops as a colored bar across the staff, scrolling in real time so you can see exactly when the harmony shifts. Helpful for hitting entrances and judging when to breathe — especially on phrases that don't begin on beat 1 of "Take Me Or Leave Me".
What key is the piano accompaniment for "Take Me Or Leave Me" by Jonathan Larson in?
The backing track is in Bb at 116 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "Take Me Or Leave Me" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "Take Me Or Leave Me"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Take Me Or Leave Me", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "Take Me Or Leave Me" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "Take Me Or Leave Me"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "Take Me Or Leave Me"?
"Take Me Or Leave Me" was originally performed by Jonathan Larson. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
How do I use "Take Me Or Leave Me" as a backing track?
Just press play — the piano accompaniment runs from start to end, no vocals. Sing, hum, or play your own instrument over it. Use the mic icon to add a vocal melody as a pitch reference, and the speed control if you want a slower practice tempo.
Can I change the key of "Take Me Or Leave Me" to fit my voice?
Yes — the original is in Bb, but the player has a live transpose control so you can shift up or down semitones until the melody sits in your vocal range. The piano accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.

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