The Burden Of Freedom chords by Rita Coolidge

• Difficulty: Intermediate

Key: C

Intro:

C   Dm   G   C  F  G C


Verse:
N.C.           C                        Dm
I stand on the stairway, my back to the dungeon
               G7                     C
The doorway to freedom so close to my hand
C              Dm      G7               C       Cmaj7  C6
While voices behind me   still bitterly damn me
C              Dm     G7                 C
For seeking salvation    they don't understand

Chorus:
C                F    Am  Dm      G         C        Cmaj7  C6
Lord, help me to shoulder     the burden of freedom
C               F     Am  Dm      F         G
And give me the courage        to be what I can
N.C.          C                       Dm
And when I am wounded by those who condemn me
              G7                            C
Lord, help me forgive them; they don't understand


Verse:
N.C.             C                   Dm
Their lonely frustration, descending to laughter
       G7                            C     Cmaj7  C6
Erases the footprints I leave in the sand
         Dm        G7                  C      Cmaj7  C6
I'm free to travel    where no one can follow
   C           Dm      G7                 C
In search of a kingdom    they don't understand


Chorus:
C                F    Am  Dm      G         C       Cmaj7  C6
Lord, help me to shoulder     the burden of freedom
C               F     Am  Dm      F         G
And give me the courage        to be what I can
                C                      Dm
And when I have wounded by those who condemn me
              G7                            C
Lord, help me forgive them; they don't understand


Outro:
C             Dm                       G
Lord, help me forgive them (help me forgive them)
         C
don't understand (don't understand)
Dm             Dm         G
              (help me forgive them)
                 C
they don't understand (don't understand)
C             Dm                       G
Lord, help me forgive them (help me forgive them)
              C
They don't understand (don't understand)
   Dm                         G
forgive them, forgive me (forgive them)
         C
don't understand (don't understand)
Dm             Dm         G           C
              (help me forgive them)
C
(don't understand)
C             Dm                       G
Lord, help me forgive them (help me forgive them)
         C
don't understand (don't understand)