Intro
| F# F#sus4 | 4x
[Verse 1]
F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4 F#
America's on fire
F#sus4 F# F#sus4
There's protests in the street
Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2 B Bmaj7
Her conscience has been looted
Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2 B
And her soul is under siege
G#sus4 G#m G#sus2 G#sus4 G#m G#sus2
Another mother's crying,
Bsus2 B Bmaj7
As history repeats
Bsus2 B F# F#sus4 F#
I can't breathe
[Instrumental]
| F# F#sus4 | 3x
[Verse 2]
F# F#sus4 F#
God damn those 8 long minutes
F#sus4 F# F#sus4 F#
Lying face down in cuffs on the ground
Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2
Bystanders pleaded for mercy
B Bmaj7
As one,
Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2 B
Cop shoved a kid in the crowd
G#sus4 G#m G#sus2 G#sus4 G#m
When did a judge and a jury
Bsus2 B Bmaj7
Become a badge and a knee
Bsus2 B F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4
On these streets?
[Chorus]
B F#
Stay alive, stay alive
G#m F#
Shine a light, stay alive
D#m F# B
Use your voice and you remember me
F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4
American reckoning
[Verse 3]
F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4 F#
I'll never know what it's like
F#sus4 F# F#sus4
To walk a mile in his shoes
Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2 B Bmaj7
And I'll never have to have the talk
Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2 B
So it don't happen to you
G#sus4 G#m G#sus2 G#sus4
Three little words written 'cross the chest
G#m Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2
Of a twelve year old who hasn't lived life yet
B F# F#sus4 F#
"G#m I next?
F#sus4 F# F#sus4
G#m I next?"
[Chorus]
B F#
Stay alive, stay alive
G#m F#
Shine a light, stay alive
D#m F# B
Use your voice and you remember me
F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4
American reckoning
[Instrumental Break]
| D#m B | C# | 2x
| G#m | F# |
| F# F#sus4 | 2x
[Bridge]
F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4 F#
Is this a moment or movement?
F#sus4 F# F#sus4
Is this the tide or a flood?
Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2 B Bmaj7
Is our American reckoning?
Bsus2 B Bmaj7
Our story written in blood
B G#sus4 G#m G#sus2 G#sus4
Or in love
G#m Bsus2 B Bmaj7 Bsus2 B
Or in peace
[Instrumental]
| F# F#sus4 | 4x
[Chorus]
B F#
Stay alive, stay alive
G#m F#
Shine a light, stay alive
D#m F# B
Use your voice and you remember me
B F#
Stay alive, stay alive
G#m F#
Shine a light, stay alive
D#m F# B
Use your voice and you remember me
F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4 F# F#sus4 F#
American reckoning
F#sus4 F#
In our American reckoning