Intro
| D Dsus4 | 4x
[Verse 1]
D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D
America's on fire
Dsus4 D Dsus4
There's protests in the street
Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2 G Gmaj7
Her conscience has been looted
Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2 G
And her soul is under siege
Esus4 Em Esus2 Esus4 Em Esus2
Another mother's crying,
Gsus2 G Gmaj7
As history repeats
Gsus2 G D Dsus4 D
I can't breathe
[Instrumental]
| D Dsus4 | 3x
[Verse 2]
D Dsus4 D
God damn those 8 long minutes
Dsus4 D Dsus4 D
Lying face down in cuffs on the ground
Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2
Bystanders pleaded for mercy
G Gmaj7
As one,
Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2 G
Cop shoved a kid in the crowd
Esus4 Em Esus2 Esus4 Em
When did a judge and a jury
Gsus2 G Gmaj7
Become a badge and a knee
Gsus2 G D Dsus4 D Dsus4
On these streets?
[Chorus]
G D
Stay alive, stay alive
Em D
Shine a light, stay alive
Bm D G
Use your voice and you remember me
D Dsus4 D Dsus4
American reckoning
[Verse 3]
D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D
I'll never know what it's like
Dsus4 D Dsus4
To walk a mile in his shoes
Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2 G Gmaj7
And I'll never have to have the talk
Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2 G
So it don't happen to you
Esus4 Em Esus2 Esus4
Three little words written 'cross the chest
Em Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2
Of a twelve year old who hasn't lived life yet
G D Dsus4 D
"Em I next?
Dsus4 D Dsus4
Em I next?"
[Chorus]
G D
Stay alive, stay alive
Em D
Shine a light, stay alive
Bm D G
Use your voice and you remember me
D Dsus4 D Dsus4
American reckoning
[Instrumental Break]
| Bm G | A | 2x
| Em | D |
| D Dsus4 | 2x
[Bridge]
D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D
Is this a moment or movement?
Dsus4 D Dsus4
Is this the tide or a flood?
Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2 G Gmaj7
Is our American reckoning?
Gsus2 G Gmaj7
Our story written in blood
G Esus4 Em Esus2 Esus4
Or in love
Em Gsus2 G Gmaj7 Gsus2 G
Or in peace
[Instrumental]
| D Dsus4 | 4x
[Chorus]
G D
Stay alive, stay alive
Em D
Shine a light, stay alive
Bm D G
Use your voice and you remember me
G D
Stay alive, stay alive
Em D
Shine a light, stay alive
Bm D G
Use your voice and you remember me
D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D
American reckoning
Dsus4 D
In our American reckoning