Tab Realm

Under American Skies by Tom Paxton




                 Under American Skies






D A D G B E 



     Dm
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     Am
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      G
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A|---------|
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Intro

e|--1---0-----1---0-3s1------------1---0-----1---0--------|
B|--3---1-----3---1----------------3---1-----3---1--------|
G|--2---2-----2---2----------------2---2-----2---2--------|
D|--0---2-----0---2----------------0---2-----0---2--------|
A|-0----0----0----0---------0h3s0-0----0----0----0--------|
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Verse 1
Dm
She was born dirt poor grew up gangly and tall 
Am
and the state gave her no real protection at all 
Dm
her father get drunk and he beat her so  bad 
Am                                                    G    
and her mother wouldn't help her man was all that she had 
Am
at school her teachers just closed their eyes 
G
to the bruises on her arms on her neck and her thighs
Am
she was learning that the world was bitter and cold 
G
she was only a child she was already old 
Am          G              Dm     Am    Dm   Am
family ties under american skies.  


Verse 2 (same chords)
As she grew up she learned to close down her heart
she turned away from love she wouldn't let love start
when a man tried rapping a west tex'n rain
she left him dying writhing in pain
like a wounded animal she lashed out mean
doing what she learned doing what she'd seen
that kind of justice never heals the hurt
and her tears mixed with blood on her raggedy shirt
anger cries, under American skies

Verse 3 (same chords)
When we ended slavery we all went free
When we stopped child labor that was victory
When women started voting to democracy
But we still haven't got and we can't let it be
When we're part of a system against it or willing
And every last time that the state starts the killing
A part of us dies, under American skies

Verse 4 (same chords)
They caught her down by the Santa Fe tracks
And the paper called her one of those drug maniacs 
The rapist was a member of society
so she got no bill she got a lawyer for free
that court appointed lawyer had a vacant smile
he raised no objections and he slept through the trial
just like her daddy had booze on his breath
the jury said guilty and the judge said death
pity flies, under American skies

Verse 5 (same chords)
They sent her to Huntsville they sent her to hell
They sent her up to Terrel to a locked down cell
She sat on her cot a couple of years crept by
her appeals ran out and she prepared to die
her final dress was just a hospital gown 
they put her on a gurney and strapped her down
put needles in her arm under surgical tape
And several minutes later she had made her escape
Sad goodbyes, under American skies

Verse 6 (same chords)
When we ended slavery we all went free
When we stopped child labor that was victory
When women started voting to democracy
But we still haven't got and we can't let it be
When we're part of a system against it or willing
And every last time that the state starts the killing
A part of us dies, under American skies










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