Intro 4x: D

   D
They're there for your first year, they give you your first beer
     Em
When you get your heart broke, they're there for your worst year
      A                                                 D
Don't get you at all, but your apple don't fall too far from 'em

D (2x)

D
They own too much wicker and drink too much liquor
      Em
You'd wash your hands of them, but blood's always thicker
    A
You might look just like 'em; that don't mean you're like 'em
        D
But you love 'em

Chorus:
D                    Em
Family is family, in church or in prison
    A                         G            A
You get what you get, and you don't get to pick 'em
     D                              Em
They might smoke like chimneys, but give you their kidneys
      A                          G         A
Yeah, friends come in handy, but family is family

D (2x)

        D
They're there when you're married, divorced, and remarried
    Em
You fall out of touch, but then someone gets buried
           A                                              D
And you're right back together like no time has ever gone by

D (2x)

           D
Can't live with or without 'em; you might talk about 'em
       Em
But if someone else does, well, then you'll knock 'em out cause
     A                                                      D
When it's all said and done, they're the only ones that you got

Chorus
D                    Em
Family is family, in church or in prison
A                             G            A
You get what you get, and you don't get to pick 'em
     D                              Em
They might smoke like chimneys, but give you their kidneys
      A                          G         A
Yeah, friends come in handy, but family is family
Middle eight

D Em G A

Chorus
      D                        Em
Yeah, family is funny, they'll ask you for money
A                         G            A
Even though they know you ain't got no money
     D                         Em
They show up at Christmas, get up in your business
     A                       G         A
They might not be fancy, but family is family

D (4x)

    A
You might look just like 'em; that don't mean you're like 'em
        D
But you love 'em