Intro
| C Csus4 | 4x
[Verse 1]
C Csus4 C Csus4 C
America's on fire
Csus4 C Csus4
There's protests in the street
Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2 F Fmaj7
Her conscience has been looted
Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2 F
And her soul is under siege
Dsus4 Dm Dsus2 Dsus4 Dm Dsus2
Another mother's crying,
Fsus2 F Fmaj7
As history repeats
Fsus2 F C Csus4 C
I can't breathe
[Instrumental]
| C Csus4 | 3x
[Verse 2]
C Csus4 C
God damn those 8 long minutes
Csus4 C Csus4 C
Lying face down in cuffs on the ground
Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2
Bystanders pleaded for mercy
F Fmaj7
As one,
Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2 F
Cop shoved a kid in the crowd
Dsus4 Dm Dsus2 Dsus4 Dm
When did a judge and a jury
Fsus2 F Fmaj7
Become a badge and a knee
Fsus2 F C Csus4 C Csus4
On these streets?
[Chorus]
F C
Stay alive, stay alive
Dm C
Shine a light, stay alive
Am C F
Use your voice and you remember me
C Csus4 C Csus4
American reckoning
[Verse 3]
C Csus4 C Csus4 C
I'll never know what it's like
Csus4 C Csus4
To walk a mile in his shoes
Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2 F Fmaj7
And I'll never have to have the talk
Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2 F
So it don't happen to you
Dsus4 Dm Dsus2 Dsus4
Three little words written 'cross the chest
Dm Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2
Of a twelve year old who hasn't lived life yet
F C Csus4 C
"Dm I next?
Csus4 C Csus4
Dm I next?"
[Chorus]
F C
Stay alive, stay alive
Dm C
Shine a light, stay alive
Am C F
Use your voice and you remember me
C Csus4 C Csus4
American reckoning
[Instrumental Break]
| Am F | G | 2x
| Dm | C |
| C Csus4 | 2x
[Bridge]
C Csus4 C Csus4 C
Is this a moment or movement?
Csus4 C Csus4
Is this the tide or a flood?
Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2 F Fmaj7
Is our American reckoning?
Fsus2 F Fmaj7
Our story written in blood
F Dsus4 Dm Dsus2 Dsus4
Or in love
Dm Fsus2 F Fmaj7 Fsus2 F
Or in peace
[Instrumental]
| C Csus4 | 4x
[Chorus]
F C
Stay alive, stay alive
Dm C
Shine a light, stay alive
Am C F
Use your voice and you remember me
F C
Stay alive, stay alive
Dm C
Shine a light, stay alive
Am C F
Use your voice and you remember me
C Csus4 C Csus4 C Csus4 C
American reckoning
Csus4 C
In our American reckoning