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Singing The Spirit Home

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Dmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse 1]
They Dcame for him in the Bmmorning, an Ghour before Ddawning
The Dpale white moon was Bmwaning in the GAfrican Asky
The Dcell door flew wide Bmopen, they Gstood looking Dat him
He Dsaw no mercy in their Bmhearts, no Gpity Ain their Deyes
[Verse 2]
As they Dtook him and they Bmbound him, tied his Gtrembling hands beDhind him
He Dfelt his courage Bmleave him, his Gmanhood disaAppear
His Dlegs would not supBmport him, so Gfrom the cell they Ddragged him
He Dsobbed and screamed and Bmcursed them in his GloneliAness and Dfear
[Chorus]
DChains, Achains, Dchains
How Gmany souls have Adied in freedom's Dname
To Gsome it is a Away of life, to Dothers just a Bmword
To Gsome it is a Asnow-white dove, to Dsome a bloody Bmsword
But unGtil the Alast chains Bmfall, Gfreedom will make Aslaves of us Dall
[Verse 3]
With Dfaces closed and Bmhidden the Gwhite guards walked beDside him
InDdifferent to his Bmpleading - they'd been Gdown this path beAfore
But Dother eyes were Bmwatching, Gother ears were Dlistening
DOther hearts beat Bmwith him in his Gfinal Adesperate Dhour
[Verse 4]
From the Ddarkness of that Bmprison came the Gsound of his brothers Dsinging
CDourage, their voices Bmtold him, you Gdo not walk aAlone
From their Dcells beyond the Bmshadow he Gheard their voices Decho
As in Dlove and pride and Bmsorrow they Gsang his Aspirit Dhome
[Chorus]
DChains, Achains, Dchains
How Gmany souls have Adied in freedom's Dname
To Gsome it is a Away of life, to Dothers just a Bmword
To Gsome it is a Asnow-white dove, to Dsome a bloody Bmsword
But unGtil the Alast chains Bmfall, Gfreedom will make Aslaves of us Dall
[Verse 5]
And their Dsong of hope and Bmfreedom, it Grang inside that Dprison
It Dbeat against the Bmiron bars and Gcrashed against the Astone
As in their Dfear and hate they Bmhung him, the last Gsound that filled his Dbeing
Was his Dbrothers Bmsinging, Gsinging his Aspirit Dhome
[Outro]
DCourage, brother, you Ado not walk aDlone
DWe shall walk with you and Asing your Dspirit home
Ends with singing of SHOSHOLOSA

All chords in this song (4)

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Singing The Spirit Home

by Eric Bogle

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

D Bm G D

They came for him in the morning, an hour before dawning

D Bm G A

The pale white moon was waning in the African sky

D Bm G D

The cell door flew wide open, they stood looking at him

D Bm G A D

He saw no mercy in their hearts, no pity in their eyes

[Verse 2]

D Bm G D

As they took him and they bound him, tied his trembling hands behind him

D Bm G A

He felt his courage leave him, his manhood disappear

D Bm G D

His legs would not support him, so from the cell they dragged him

D Bm G A D

He sobbed and screamed and cursed them in his loneliness and fear

[Chorus]

D A D

Chains, chains, chains

G A D

How many souls have died in freedom's name

G A D Bm

To some it is a way of life, to others just a word

G A D Bm

To some it is a snow-white dove, to some a bloody sword

G A Bm G A D

But until the last chains fall, freedom will make slaves of us all

[Verse 3]

D Bm G D

With faces closed and hidden the white guards walked beside him

D Bm G A

Indifferent to his pleading - they'd been down this path before

D Bm G D

But other eyes were watching, other ears were listening

D Bm G A D

Other hearts beat with him in his final desperate hour

[Verse 4]

D Bm G D

From the darkness of that prison came the sound of his brothers singing

D Bm G A

Courage, their voices told him, you do not walk alone

D Bm G D

From their cells beyond the shadow he heard their voices echo

D Bm G A D

As in love and pride and sorrow they sang his spirit home

[Chorus]

D A D

Chains, chains, chains

G A D

How many souls have died in freedom's name

G A D Bm

To some it is a way of life, to others just a word

G A D Bm

To some it is a snow-white dove, to some a bloody sword

G A Bm G A D

But until the last chains fall, freedom will make slaves of us all

[Verse 5]

D Bm G D

And their song of hope and freedom, it rang inside that prison

D Bm G A

It beat against the iron bars and crashed against the stone

D Bm G D

As in their fear and hate they hung him, the last sound that filled his being

D Bm G A D

Was his brothers singing, singing his spirit home

[Outro]

D A D

Courage, brother, you do not walk alone

D A D

We shall walk with you and sing your spirit home

Ends with singing of SHOSHOLOSA

About Singing The Spirit Home Chords by Eric Bogle

Learn how to play Singing The Spirit Home by Eric Bogle with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Singing The Spirit Home chords”, “Singing The Spirit Home guitar chords”, or “Eric Bogle Singing The Spirit Home 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 Singing The Spirit Home chords and for experienced players who want accurate Singing The Spirit Home lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Bm, G, A.

FAQ — Singing The Spirit Home by Eric Bogle

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What key is "Singing The Spirit Home" in?

The chords for "Singing The Spirit Home" show the original chord names (including D, Bm, G, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.