A    C#m   D     A
A     E    D     A
A    C#m   D     A
A     E    D     A


[Verse 1]

          A                 C#m                  D            A
I broke free on a Saturday morning, I put the pedal too the floor
         A             E              D                 A
Headed north on Mills Avenue and listened to the engine roar

A    C#m  D     A
A    E    D     A

      A                       C#m
My broken house behind me and good things ahead,
               D                         A
a girl named Cathy wants a little of my time

    A                        E
Six cylinders underneath the hood crashing and kicking
  D                         A
aha! listen to the engine whine


[Chorus]

               A                    C#m          D       A
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
               A                    E         D         A
I am going to make it though this year if it kills me


[Verse 2]

 A                          C#m
I played video games in a drunken haze,
         D              A
I was seventeen years young
  A                             E
Hurt my knuckles punching the machines
               D                 A
the taste of scotch rich on my tongue

A    C#m   D     A
A     E    D     A
A    C#m   D     A
A     E    D     A

  A                              C#m
And then Cathy showed up and we hung out
          D                       A
trading swigs from a bottle all bitter and clean
A               C#m
locking eyes holding hands
              D          A
twin high maintenance machines


[Chorus]

               A                    C#m          D       A
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
               A                    E         D         A
I am going to make it though this year if it kills me


[Bridge]

F#m                              A
I drove home in the California dusk,
F#m                          A
I could feel the alcohol inside of me hum
             F#m                       A
Pictured the look on my stepfather's face,
D                           E
ready for the bad things to come.


[Verse 3]

          A                            C#m
I down shifted as I pulled into the driveway,
      D                             A
the motor screaming out stuck in second gear
                 A                   E
The scene ends badly as you might imagine
         D                   A
in a cavalcade of anger and fear
                 A            C#m         D           A
There will be feasting and dancing in Jerusalem next year


[Chorus]

               A                    C#m          D       A
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
               A                    E         D         A
I am going to make it though this year if it kills me

A    C#m   D     A
A     E    D     A
A    C#m   D     A
A     E    D     A