The Battle Of Hampton Roads chords by Titus Andronicus

not too many people
are likely to read the whole thing, I'm putting up a chord version first. This is
kind of barebones,
as it only covers the vocal parts, but it's fine for singalongs.

A few notes: In the first half of all the verses, the G is barred; in the first
two of these, the G is
just an octave: 3x5xxx. The B at the end of the verses sometimes starts as a power chord and then
expands to the full Bmaj, but this is inconsistent across live and recorded versions. Have fun!


G

Tonight, two great ships will pull back to their ports
Depleted of everything that shoots flames and reports,
And in the morning the shells will wash up on the shore
And the mighty of Earth will have no other recourse
       Am
But to shiver and shake and make shit in their shorts,
        G
Because we have been told that if you've been assured
          Am                                      Em
There's a way to live the values your forefathers gave you,
                                 C
Prepare to be told, "That shit's gay, dude."
                              G         B5   B
I guess that what they say is true.
         C                                                   G
There is no race more human, no one throws it away like they do.

G
The things I used to love, I have come to reject.
The things I used to hate, I have learned to accept,
        Am
And the worst of the three, you now have to expect
      G
Satan ain't hard to see without craning your neck.
         Am
He'll be seventy-some inches tall,
         Em
He'll be chugging a beer, he'll be grabbing his balls,
       C                                       G      B5  B
He's a remote explosive waiting for someone to call.
          C                                             G
He's just eighteen for now, but he's going to murder us all.

G
Solidarity is going to give a lot less than it'll take.
Is there a girl at this college who hasn't been raped?
           Am
Is there a boy in this town that's not exploding with hate?
          G
Is there a human alive that can look themselves in the face
        Am                                     Em
Without winking, or say what they mean without drinking,
                                C                                   G         B5 B
Or believe in something without thinking, "What if somebody doesn't approve?"
           C                                               G
Is there a soul on this Earth that isn't too frightened to move?

G
I think the wrong people got a hold of your brain
When it was nothing but a piece of putty.
       Am                                       G
So now try as you may, but you will always be a tourist, little buddy.
    Am
And half the time I open my mouth to speak
        Em
It's to repeat something that I've heard on TV.
       C                                                        G             B
I've destroyed everything that wouldn't make me more like Bruce Springsteen,
             C                                                      G
So I'm going back to New Jersey, I do believe they've had enough of me.

(instrumental)

        G
So when I leave Boston, my tail is between my legs,
After deep cups of patience have been drunk to the dregs,
        Am
And now I'm heading west on 84 again,
           G
And I'm as much of an asshole as I've ever been.
             Am
And there is still nothing about myself I respect
              G
Still haven't done anything I did not later regret.
       Am
I've a hand and a napkin when looking for sex,
           G
And that's no one to talk to when feeling depressed.
       Am
And so now when I drink, I'm going to drink to excess,
           G
And when I smoke, I will smoke gaping holes in my chest,
           Am
And when I scream, I will scream until I'm gasping for breath,
    G
And when I get sick, I will stay sick for the rest
      Am
Of my days peddling hate out the back of a Chevy Express,
           G
Each one a fart in the face of your idea of success.
       Am
And if this be thy will, then fucking pass me the cup,
        G
And I'm sorry, Dad, no, I'm not making this up.
       Am                                    Em
But my enemy, it's your name on my lips as I go to sleep
                            C
And I know what little I've known of peace
                                          G     B
Yes, I've done to you what you've done to me.
           C                                                  G
And I'd be nothing without you, my darling, please don't ever leave.

                  G
Please don't ever leave.
                  Em
Please don't ever leave.
                  C
Please don't ever leave.
                  G