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Borderline

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Aminor

90BPM

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[Intro]
Am  C  G  Am
[Verse 1]
In the Amstill of the Cdesert, in the Glight of the Ammoon,
ArAmmando Cwalks all Ealone
And the rAmiver aChead holds Gpromise and Amdread
And he's Fnine hundred Emiles from his Amhome
[Verse 2]
He Ampays the cyCotes Gdodges la Ammegra
AmWalks for Cfour hungry Edays
When he Amfinally hits CAustin the Gboomtown is Ambustin
But he Ftakes what the Econtractor Ampays
[Chorus]
When Clove for family is Amstronger than fear
When the Cdesperation sets Amin
A Cman will cross any Amline that is drawn
And Dmwho's to say it's a Esin
And he Amcrossed Chimself at the GborderAmline
[Verse 3]
He Amwired the Cdollars to GElena back Amhome
As he Amroamed with Cten desperate Emen
When the Ambuilders had Cenough, the GINS Amcuffed him,
And it's Fback to the Eborder Amagain
[Verse 4]
A Amtearful reCunion with Gfamily and Amfriends,
But Amsoon the reCality sets Ein
There's no Amwork to be Cfound in the Gdry desert Amground
He must Fhead to esEtados aAmgain
[Mandolin Break]
Am  C  G  Am
F   E  Am
[Verse 5]
From AmGuadalaCjara come a Gman with no Amname
He said "AmYou can have Call that you Eneed."
"There's no Amcontract to Csign but the Gterms are your Amlife,
If you Ftake my Emoney and Amseed"
[Chorus]
When Clove for family is Amstronger than fear
when the Cdesperation sets Amin
A Cman will cross any Amline that is drawn
And Dmwho's to say it's a Esin
And he Amcrossed Chimself at the GborderAmline
[Verse 6]
The Ampayments were Cmade, the Gseed it was Amsown,
AmArmando Cwatched the crop Egrow
AmEven his Cbrother in Glaw in the Amarmy,
Was Fin on the Eplan from the Amgo
[Verse 7]
Am7 months Cgone and the Gcrops gathered Amin
But the Ambrother has a Cplan of his Eown
He Amorders a Craid, the Garmy inAmvades,
And he Ftakes what the Evillage has Amgrown
[Mandolin Break]
Am  C  G  Am
F   E  Am
[Verse 8]
AmIn from the Cwest came the Gman with no Amname
He said "Amsomeone must Cpay with their Elife
"We Amknow your Cbrothers, your Gfather, your Ammother,
Your Fchildren, your Esister, your Amwife"
[Verse 9]
"Now Amwe can not Ctouch your Gsister's young Amhusband
AmTu Cunao is a Cmilitary Eman
But Amyou can Cdecide who Glives and who Amdies"
And he Fplaced the Egun in his Amhand
[Chorus]
When Clove for family is Amstronger than fear
when the Cdesperation sets Amin
A Cman will cross any Amline that is drawn
And Dmwho's to say it's a Esin
And he Amcrossed Chimself at the GborderAmline
[Verse 10]
In the Amstill of the Cdesert, in the Glight of the Ammoon
AmArmando Cwalks all aElone
And the Amriver aChead holds Gpromise and Amdread
And he's Fnine hundred Emiles from his Amhome

All chords in this song (6)

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Borderline

by Slaid Cleaves

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

Am C G Am

[Verse 1]

Am C G Am

In the still of the desert, in the light of the moon,

Am C E

Armando walks all alone

Am C G Am

And the river ahead holds promise and dread

F E Am

And he's nine hundred miles from his home

[Verse 2]

Am C G Am

He pays the cyotes dodges la megra

Am C E

Walks for four hungry days

Am C G Am

When he finally hits Austin the boomtown is bustin

F E Am

But he takes what the contractor pays

[Chorus]

C Am

When love for family is stronger than fear

C Am

When the desperation sets in

C Am

A man will cross any line that is drawn

Dm E

And who's to say it's a sin

Am C G Am

And he crossed himself at the borderline

[Verse 3]

Am C G Am

He wired the dollars to Elena back home

Am C E

As he roamed with ten desperate men

Am C G Am

When the builders had enough, the INS cuffed him,

F E Am

And it's back to the border again

[Verse 4]

Am C G Am

A tearful reunion with family and friends,

Am C E

But soon the reality sets in

Am C G Am

There's no work to be found in the dry desert ground

F E Am

He must head to estados again

[Mandolin Break]

Am C G Am

F E Am

[Verse 5]

Am C G Am

From Guadalajara come a man with no name

Am C E

He said "You can have all that you need."

Am C G Am

"There's no contract to sign but the terms are your life,

F E Am

If you take my money and seed"

[Chorus]

C Am

When love for family is stronger than fear

C Am

when the desperation sets in

C Am

A man will cross any line that is drawn

Dm E

And who's to say it's a sin

Am C G Am

And he crossed himself at the borderline

[Verse 6]

Am C G Am

The payments were made, the seed it was sown,

Am C E

Armando watched the crop grow

Am C G Am

Even his brother in law in the army,

F E Am

Was in on the plan from the go

[Verse 7]

Am C G Am

7 months gone and the crops gathered in

Am C E

But the brother has a plan of his own

Am C G Am

He orders a raid, the army invades,

F E Am

And he takes what the village has grown

[Mandolin Break]

Am C G Am

F E Am

[Verse 8]

Am C G Am

In from the west came the man with no name

Am C E

He said "someone must pay with their life

Am C G Am

"We know your brothers, your father, your mother,

F E Am

Your children, your sister, your wife"

[Verse 9]

Am C G Am

"Now we can not touch your sister's young husband

Am C E

Tu Cunao is a military man

Am C G Am

But you can decide who lives and who dies"

F E Am

And he placed the gun in his hand

[Chorus]

C Am

When love for family is stronger than fear

C Am

when the desperation sets in

C Am

A man will cross any line that is drawn

Dm E

And who's to say it's a sin

Am C G Am

And he crossed himself at the borderline

[Verse 10]

Am C G Am

In the still of the desert, in the light of the moon

Am C E

Armando walks all alone

Am C G Am

And the river ahead holds promise and dread

F E Am

And he's nine hundred miles from his home

About Borderline Chords by Slaid Cleaves

Learn how to play Borderline by Slaid Cleaves with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Borderline chords”, “Borderline guitar chords”, or “Slaid Cleaves Borderline chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Borderline chords and for experienced players who want accurate Borderline lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, G, E, F, A.

FAQ — Borderline by Slaid Cleaves

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What key is "Borderline" in?

The chords for "Borderline" show the original chord names (including Am, C, G, E, F, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.