The Blessing chords by Eric Bogle

• Capo on 9th

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Key: G

Difficulty: Intermediate

N.B.: Capo 9 or transpose -3 for original key

Intro:
G  D/F#  Em    C    D

Verse 1:
  G
I used to cling to the strong belief
    Am
All through life's slowly deepening grief
        D
That in every heart a dream of peace
       G              D
Longed for the day of its release
       G
Though peace was often hard to keep
       Am
Though fears and hatred still ran deep
  D
I thought one day they'd surely fall
       G                   D
To the dream of peace that binds us all

Chorus:
    Em
And blessed be those who strive for peace
     C
They shall be shot down in the streets
Em
Blessed be the free, the proud, and the brave
     C
They shall be humbled and enslaved
Em
Blessed be those who love and care
      C                   D
Their hearts shall wither in despair
 G
Above all bless the human race
    Am
For spitting in Creations face
    D
Who knows if we'll live or die
    G
Not I.
        D/F#     Em
And who cares if we'll live or die
    C      D
Not I. Not I.

Verse 2:
  G
I used to think that the written word
         Am
Was more mighty than the gun or sword
D
Justice, Truth, and Liberty
     G                   D
Were more than just mere words to me
    G
But weapons, when in Freedom's hand
   Am
No tyranny could long withstand
    D
Nor yet delay its final hour
G                  D
Brought to dust by words of power

Em C Em C Em C Em C

Chorus:
    Em
And blessed be those who strive for peace
     C
They shall be shot down in the streets
Em
Blessed be the free, the proud, and the brave
     C
They shall be humbled and enslaved
Em
Blessed be those who love and care
      C                   D
Their hearts shall wither in despair
 G
Above all bless the human race
    Am
For spitting in Creations face
    D
Who knows if we'll live or die
    G
Not I.
        D/F#     Em
And who cares if we'll live or die
    C      D
Not I. Not I.

Verse 3:
     G
So I sit here in my ivory tower
Am
Playing with these words of power
D
Rhymes fly from my fingertips
G                   D
Songs fall smoothly from my lips
   G
To better see, I stand apart
   Am
To safer be, I veil my heart
    D
See Moses down the mountain flies
G              D
Is he bringing truth or lies?

Chorus:
    Em
And blessed be those who strive for peace
     C
They shall be shot down in the streets
Em
Blessed be the free, the proud, and the brave
     C
They shall be humbled and enslaved
Em
Blessed be those who love and care
      C                   D
Their hearts shall wither in despair
 G
Above all bless the human race
    Am
For spitting in Creations face
    D
Who knows if we'll live or die
    G
Not I.
        D/F#     Em
And who cares if we'll live or die
    C      D      G
Not I. Not I. Not I.