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Maintaining Law And Order

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Capo I
[Verse 1]
DThe policemen of the city wear a uniform of Bmblue
F#mwalkin' within the city's Aborder
Dprotecting all the people
that's what they're paid to Bmdo,
F#mmaintaining Alaw and Dorder.
[Verse 2]
DYou see them walkin' down the street
swingin' around the Bmclub
F#mpistols hangin' loosely from the Aholster
Dand the something of the soldier
in the shedding of the Bmblood
F#mmaintaining Alaw and Dorder.
[Verse 3]
DAnd at the police academy
they're trainin' for the Bmday
where the F#mrookies are training to be Acolder
Dlearning to be as hard as the hard world they Bmface
F#mmaintaining Alaw and Dorder.
[Verse 4]
DNow in many Southern cities
they don't need to use their Bmhands
oh, they F#mthrow them roughly in the Acorner
and Dtell the other prisoners "Here's a nigger-lovin' Bmman"
while F#mmaintaining Alaw and Dorder.
[Verse 5]
DNow I'll be the first to tell you
that their pay is not the Bmbest
for they F#mall have a wife and must support Aher
so the Dgamblers and the prostitutes pay them the Bmrest
while they F#mmaintain Alaw and Dorder.
[Verse 6]
DThese are bitter words of warning
and they have to leave yBmou sad
cause a F#mcop may save my life Atomorrow
Dbut it's really for the good man that I'm singing about the Bmbad
who are F#mmaintaining Alaw and Dorder.
[Verse 7]
DNow they ask for greater power
from the bottom to the Bmtop
their F#mdemands daily growing Abolder
but Dwho maintain the police and who maintain the Bmcops
while they F#mmaintain Alaw, law and Dorder.

All chords in this song (4)

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Maintaining Law And Order

by Phil Ochs

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Capo I

[Verse 1]

D Bm

The policemen of the city wear a uniform of blue

F#m A

walkin' within the city's border

protecting all the people

that's what they're paid to do,

F#m A D

maintaining law and order.

[Verse 2]

You see them walkin' down the street

swingin' around the club

F#m A

pistols hangin' loosely from the holster

and the something of the soldier

in the shedding of the blood

F#m A D

maintaining law and order.

[Verse 3]

And at the police academy

they're trainin' for the day

F#m A

where the rookies are training to be colder

D Bm

learning to be as hard as the hard world they face

F#m A D

maintaining law and order.

[Verse 4]

Now in many Southern cities

they don't need to use their hands

F#m A

oh, they throw them roughly in the corner

D Bm

and tell the other prisoners "Here's a nigger-lovin' man"

F#m A D

while maintaining law and order.

[Verse 5]

Now I'll be the first to tell you

that their pay is not the best

F#m A

for they all have a wife and must support her

D Bm

so the gamblers and the prostitutes pay them the rest

F#m A D

while they maintain law and order.

[Verse 6]

These are bitter words of warning

and they have to leave you sad

F#m A

cause a cop may save my life tomorrow

D Bm

but it's really for the good man that I'm singing about the bad

F#m A D

who are maintaining law and order.

[Verse 7]

Now they ask for greater power

from the bottom to the top

F#m A

their demands daily growing bolder

D Bm

but who maintain the police and who maintain the cops

F#m A D

while they maintain law, law and order.

About Maintaining Law And Order Chords by Phil Ochs

Learn how to play Maintaining Law And Order by Phil Ochs with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Maintaining Law And Order chords”, “Maintaining Law And Order guitar chords”, or “Phil Ochs Maintaining Law And Order 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 Maintaining Law And Order chords and for experienced players who want accurate Maintaining Law And Order lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Bm, F#m, A.

FAQ — Maintaining Law And Order by Phil Ochs

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The chords for "Maintaining Law And Order" show the original chord names (including D, Bm, F#m, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.