C F G
[Verse 1]
C F C
Oh Lord, please may I talk with Thee?
G G7
People crying in the land of the free
C F C
Something's wrong, this is not what they taught me
Am D7 G C
It's America the beautiful, my country 'tis of Thee
[Chorus]
F Am
It says here in the Constitution
C C7
Of the rights of every man
G G7 C C7
And it don't take law and order just to make me understand
F Am C A7
If the minds of men refuse to see our equality
D7 G
Then it takes some demonstrating and a lot of faith in Thee
[Verse 2]
C F C
In this world of materiality
G G7
The dollar bill is as far as people see
C F C
If we lose the war on poverty
Am D7 G C
Then America's not beautiful, is my country still of Thee?
[Chorus]
F Am C C7
We all don't want a revolution but to make all mankind see
G G7 C C7
There's a better way of being here with peace and harmony
F Am C A7
So I ask you, Lord, to send some help to our country
D7 G
So it once more can be beautiful and ring out praise to Thee
[Verse 3]
C F C
Oh Lord, oh may we live to see
G G7
All the dreams of the men who died for me
C F C
And all the young that have been waiting patiently
Am D7 G C
For America the beautiful, my country 'tis of thee
[Instrumental]
C G F G F C G C
[Chorus]
F Am C C7
A holy man once told that you reap exactly what you sow
G G7 C C7
So I think I'll plant some love and peace and wait for it to grow
F Am C A7
In the meantime I can help someone who's fallen to his knees
D7 G
Got to make all men your brother if you want the whole world free
[Verse 4]
C F C
Oh Lord, forgive those who don't see
G G7
They don't know how a world's supposed to be
C F C
Peace and love and a life of liberty
Am D7 G F C
In America the beautiful, my country 'tis of thee