Am C      Am C        Am      C       Am C
Solemn regret, transgressions fill my head
Am        C      Am C   Am        C     Am
A measure of success is how well to forget
C       G       Am
And the past is dead

 Am  C

Am                               C
Strewn about the battlefield of life are the
               D       F E
Remainders of history
         Am                       C
When convenient we exalt them and pay them such respect
            D                       F    E
As if we're all in an equivalent trajectory

Am        F     E           Am     F      E
And trash piles high in the rubble we forgot
    Am     F      E           Am      F        E
The angels of our nature just sit and watch it rot

         F    C   G
Now, the past is dead
       F          C         G
Let's focus on tomorrow instead
        F      C       G
Oh the tragic present said
    G#       Am
The past is dead

 Am  C

Am                               C
Who can say what constitutes the most important
             D       F E
Sector of society?
         Am                           C
When the dominant portion seek an instant gratification
        D                     F      E
And are proud of intellectual poverty

Am       F  E     Am     F      E
I'd like to be emphatic but i can't
    Am  F  E         Am       F      E
The jeopardy is too great to make a stand

         F    C   G
Now the past is dead
       F          C            G
Good deeds won't help you get ahead
         F       C        G        G#     Am
Yeah the modern signpost read the past is dead

   Am            C              Am      C
My next great decision is just lying in wait
    Am                 C            Am
The action might turn out to be the world's most
 C          G
Grievous mistake

 F  C  G X 4

         F    C   G
Yeah the past is dead
       F        C                     G
More veritable words have never been read
        F      C       G        G#      Am
Oh the tragic present said the past is dead