G                C          G        C
In a building of gold, with riches untold,
          G                     C           G      - C
lived the families on which the country was founded.
        G            C                 G            C
And the merchants of style, with their vain, velvet smiles,
     G               Em        D
were there, for they also were hounded.
        G           C             G        C
And the soft middle class crowded in to the last,
        G            Em       Bm
for the building was fully surrounded.
G                C            G       D7     G
And the noise outside was the ringing of revolution.

G                C          G        C
Sadly they stared and sank in their chairs
    G              C           G      - C
and searched for a comforting notion.
        G            C                 G          C
And the rich silver walls looked ready to fall
     G               Em        D
As they shook in doubtful devotion.
        G           C             G        C
The ice cubes would clink as they freshened their drinks,
        G            Em       Bm
wet their minds in bitter emotion.
G                C            G       D7     G
And they talked about the ringing of revolution.

          G                     C           G      - C
We were hardly aware of the hardships they beared,
    G            C           G      - C
for our time was taken with treasure.
        G            C                 G          C
Oh, life was a game, and work was a shame,
     G               Em        D
And pain was prevented by pleasure.
        G           C             G        C
The world, cold and grey, was so far away
        G            Em       Bm
In the distance only money could measure.
G                C            G       D7     G
But their thoughts were broken by the ringing of revolution.

          G                     C           G      - C
The clouds filled the room in darkening doom
 G                     C           G      - C
as the crooked smoke rings were rising.
        G            C                 G          C
How long will it take, how can we escape
     G               Em        D
Someone asks, but no one's advising.
        G           C             G        C
And the quivering floor responds to the roar,
        G            Em       Bm
In a shake no longer surprising.
G                C            G       D7     G
As closer and closer comes the ringing of revolution.

          G                     C           G      - C
Softly they moan, please leave us alone
 G          C           G      - C
As back and forth they are pacing.
        G            C                 G          C
And they cover their ears and try not to hear
     G               Em        D
With pillows of silk they're embracing.
        G          C             G        C
Oh, the cackling crowd is laughing out loud,
        G         Em             Bm
peeking in at the target they're chasing.
G                C            G       D7     G
Now trembling inside the ringing of revolution.

G                     C         G   C
With compromise sway we gave in halfway
G                C             G      - C
When we saw that rebellion was growing.
        G            C                 G          C
Now everything's lost as they kneel by the cross
     G               Em        D
Where the blood of Christ is still flowing.
        G           C             G        C
To late for their sorrow they've reached their tomorrow
  G            Em       Bm
and reaped the seed they were sowing.
G                C            G       D7     G
Now harvested by the ringing of revolution.

G                     C           G     C
In tattered tuxedos they faced the new heroes
    G       C        G      - C
and crawled about in confusion.
        G            C                 G          C
And they sheepishly grinned for their memoroes were dim
     G               Em        D
of the decades of dark execution.
        G      C             G        C
Hollow hands raised, they stood there amazed
        G            Em       Bm
in the shattering of their illusions
G                C            G       D7     G
As the windows were smashed by the ringing of revolution.

G                      C           G      C
Down on our knees, we're begging you please,
      G             C           G   - C
We're sorry for the way you were driven.
        G            C                  G          C
There's no need to taunt, just take what you want,
     G               Em        D
and we'll make amends, if we're living.
        G           C              G        C
But away from the grounds, the flames told the town
        G            Em       Bm
that only the dead are forgiven.
G                C            G       D7     G
As they crumbled inside the ringing of revolution.