The Torn Flag chords by Pete Seeger
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Verse 1
Mal (A minor) colm X (E minor) once got into an argument
(A minor) with another (E minor) man
as to whether they (A minor) could call
themselves Americans.
(E minor) I'm not an American, said Malcolm.
Why (A minor) do you think you are?
Well, I'm an American
because I was born here. (E minor)
(A minor) Well, you could put a shoe in an oven,
but that would (E minor) n't make it a biscuit,
said Malcolm. (A minor)
I don't have any such (E minor) choice.
my own New England ancestors
participated in (G major) all the decisions
of (E minor) 100 years ago, 150 years ago. (A minor)
I had a uncle once who wrote a poem,
(D minor) I have a (A minor) rendezvous with death
at midnight in some flaming town.
So I took his line
and made a new verse using it.
At midnight (C major) in some flaming angry (A minor) town
I saw my country's flag
lying torn upon the ground
I ran (C major) in and dodged (A minor) among the crowd
and scooped it up (D minor) and (A minor) ran out to safety
And then I (C major) took this
striped old piece of cloth
and (D minor) tried my best
to wash the garbage (E minor) off,
but I found it had been used
for wrapping lies.
It smelled and stank
and attracted (A minor) all the flies.
While I was feverishly at my task,
I (D minor) heard a husky voice that seemed to (E minor) ask,
Do you think you could
(G major) change me (E minor) just a bit?
Betsy Ross did her be (C major) st,
but she (A minor) made a few mistakes.
My blue is good, the color of the sky
The stars are good for ideals oh so (C major) high
Seven stripes of red are
strong to meet all (G major) danger
(C major) But those white (G major) stripes,
(B minor) they need some (G major) changing
(E minor) I (A minor) need also some stripes of
deep rich brown
And some of tan and black, then (D minor) all around
A border (C major) of God's gracious
green
would look good there
Maybe you should slant the stripes,
then I'd not be so (E minor) square
(E major) I (E minor) awoke and (C major) said, what a
ridiculous story
(D minor) Don't let anybody say
I suggested tampering (C major) with old (E minor) glory
But tonight it's (G major) near midnight
and in another (B minor) flaming (E minor) town
Once again I (C major) hear my country's flag
(A minor) glides (E minor) torn (A minor) upon the ground
The Torn Flag
Pete Seeger
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