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A Church Is Burning

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Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Notes:
  - G* denotes a quick walk down from G (that is, G F# E in the bass)
  - Almost every D is really an alternating D and Dsus2
[Intro]
  D   A  G*  D  
[Chorus 1]
          D           A  G*    D  
A church is bu - u - u - rning
The flDames rGise highDer
Like hands that arF#me prayinEmg
AglGow in the sAsus4kyA  
Like haDnds that are praying
     G*       D  
The fire is sayin’
         G*            D  
You can burn down my churches
But A7I shall be   Dfree
[Verse 1]
   EmThree hooded men through the bDack roads did creep
EmTorches in their hands while the vDillage lies asleep
G*                              D           C  D  
   Down to the church where, just hours before
G*              D  
   Voices were singing, and
G*             D  
   Hands were beating, and
G*                       D              A  D  
   Saying, "I won't be a slave anymore"
[Chorus 2]
          D           A  G*    D  
A church is bu - u - u - rning
The flDames rGise highDer
Like hands that arF#me prayinEmg
AglGow in the sAsus4kyA  
Like haDnds that are praying
     G*       D  
The fire is sayin’
         G*            D  
You can burn down my churches
But A7I shall be   Dfree
[Verse 2]
   EmThree hooded men, their hDands lit the spark
And they fEmaded in the night, and they vDanished in the dark
            G*                             D  G*             D  
And in the cold light of morning, there is nothing that remains
         G*                    D            A  D  
But the ashes of a Bible and a can of kerosene
[Chorus 3]
          D           A  G*    D  
A church is bu - u - u - rning
The flDames rGise highDer
Like hands that arF#me prayinEmg
AglGow in the sAsus4kyA  
Like haDnds that are praying
     G*       D  
The fire is sayin’
         G*            D  
You can burn down my churches
But A7I shall be   Dfree
[Verse 3]
   EmA church is more than just tDimber and stone
And fEmreedom is a dark road when you're wDalking it alone
         G*                     D  G*              D  
But the future is now, and it's time to take a stand
        G*                       D                A  D  
So the lost bells of freedom can ring out in my land
[Chorus 4]
          D           A  G*    D  
A church is bu - u - u - rning
The flDames rGise highDer
Like hands that arF#me prayinEmg
AglGow in the sAsus4kyA  
Like haDnds that are praying
     G*       D  
The fire is sayin’
         G*                  D  Bm  
You can burn down my church - es
But GI - I - AI shall be frDee

All chords in this song (9)

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A Church Is Burning

by Paul Simon

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Asus4

Notes:

- G* denotes a quick walk down from G (that is, G F# E in the bass)

- Almost every D is really an alternating D and Dsus2

[Intro]

D A G D

[Chorus 1]

D A G D

A church is bu - u - u - rning

D G D

The flames rise higher

F#m Em

Like hands that are praying

G Asus4 A

Aglow in the sky

Like hands that are praying

G D

The fire is sayin’

G D

You can burn down my churches

A7 D

But I shall be free

[Verse 1]

Em D

Three hooded men through the back roads did creep

Em D

Torches in their hands while the village lies asleep

G D C D

Down to the church where, just hours before

G D

Voices were singing, and

G D

Hands were beating, and

G D A D

Saying, "I won't be a slave anymore"

[Chorus 2]

D A G D

A church is bu - u - u - rning

D G D

The flames rise higher

F#m Em

Like hands that are praying

G Asus4 A

Aglow in the sky

Like hands that are praying

G D

The fire is sayin’

G D

You can burn down my churches

A7 D

But I shall be free

[Verse 2]

Em D

Three hooded men, their hands lit the spark

Em D

And they faded in the night, and they vanished in the dark

G D G D

* *

And in the cold light of morning, there is nothing that remains

G D A D

But the ashes of a Bible and a can of kerosene

[Chorus 3]

D A G D

A church is bu - u - u - rning

D G D

The flames rise higher

F#m Em

Like hands that are praying

G Asus4 A

Aglow in the sky

Like hands that are praying

G D

The fire is sayin’

G D

You can burn down my churches

A7 D

But I shall be free

[Verse 3]

Em D

A church is more than just timber and stone

Em D

And freedom is a dark road when you're walking it alone

G D G D

* *

But the future is now, and it's time to take a stand

G D A D

So the lost bells of freedom can ring out in my land

[Chorus 4]

D A G D

A church is bu - u - u - rning

D G D

The flames rise higher

F#m Em

Like hands that are praying

G Asus4 A

Aglow in the sky

Like hands that are praying

G D

The fire is sayin’

G D Bm

You can burn down my church - es

G A D

But I - I - I shall be free

About A Church Is Burning Chords by Paul Simon

Learn how to play A Church Is Burning by Paul Simon with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A Church Is Burning chords”, “A Church Is Burning guitar chords”, or “Paul Simon A Church Is Burning 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 A Church Is Burning chords and for experienced players who want accurate A Church Is Burning lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, F, E, D, Dsus2, A.

FAQ — A Church Is Burning by Paul Simon

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