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Deathbed

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Aminor

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[Chorus 1]
I can smell the dFeath on the sheets, covering me
FI can't believe this is the eCndG  
But Cthis is my dFeathbed, I Glie here Amalone
If I cClose my eyes tonFight
I Gknow I'll be hCome
[Verse 1]
The Cyear was nineteen forty Gmone
I was Bbeight years old and far, far too Fyoung
To Cknow that the stories, of Gmbattles and glory
Was a Bbtale a kind mother made Fup for her son, You see
CDad was a traveling pGmreacher
BbTeaching the words of the FTeacher
And mCother had sworn he went oGmff to the war
And Bbdied there with honor, someFwhere on a beach there
But he Amleft once to never E/G#return
Which C/Gtaught me that I should unD/F#learn
WhateFver I thought a Cfather should be
I aEbbandoned that thought like he D/F#abandoned me
By Dforty seven I was fourA/C#teen
I'd acCquired a taste for liquor and Gnicotine
GmI smoked until I threw D/Aup
Yeah, I still lit 'em Aup for A/G#thirty more A/Gyears
Like a maDchine
So Fright there you have itC  
That oFne filthy habitC  
Is what F/Dgot me where CI am toGday
[Chorus 2]
I can smell the Fdeath on the sheets, covering me
FI can't believe this is the CendG  
I can hear those Fsad memories, still haunting me
FSo many things, I'd do aCgainG  
But Cthis is my Fdeathbed, I Glie here Amalone
If I Cclose my eyes toFnight
I Gknow I'll be hCome
[Verse 2]
I got Cmarried on my twenty fGmirst
EBbight months before my Fwife would give birth
It's eCasier to be sure you Gmlove someone
When her Bbfather inquires with the Fbarrel of a gun
The Amunion was far from harE/G#monious
No two C/Gpeople could have been more D/F#alone than us
The Fyears would go by and she'd Clove someone else
And I Ebrealized I hadn't been D/F#loved yet myself
From Dthere it's your typical sApiel
Yeah if Clife was a highway, I was Gdrunk at the wheel
I was Gmhelping the loose ends, D/Aall fall apart
Yeah, I Aswear I was A/G#destined to A/Gfail
fail from the Dstart
I bFowled about six times a Cweek
The Fbottle of Beam kept the mCemories from me
My Fmarriage had taken a Cseven-ten split
And F/Dalong with my pCride the ex-Gwife took the kids
[Chorus 3]
I can smell the Fdeath on the sheets, covering me
FI can't believe this is the CendG  
I can hear those Fsad memories, still haunting me
FSo many things, I'd do aCgainG  
But Cthis is my Fdeathbed, I Glie here Amalone
If I Cclose my eyes toFnight
I Gknow I'll be hCome
[Verse 3]
I was Cso scared of Jesus, but GmHe sought me out
Like the Bbcancer in my lungs that's Fkilling me now
And I've Cgiven up hope on the Gmdays I have left
But I Bbcling to the hope of my Flife in the next
Then AmJesus showed up, said "BeE/G#fore we go up
I C/Gthought that we might remiD/F#nisce
See one Fnight in your life, when you Cturned out the light
You Ebasked for and prayed for Dmy forgiveness"
You cried wDolf, the Bmtears they soaked your Afur
The bGlood dripped from your Emfangs
You Dsaid "What have I Adone?"
You loved that EmLamb, with Devery sinful Bmbone
And Athere you wept Galone
Your Emheart was so conAtrite
You said, "EmJesus, please forDgive me of my Gcrimes
EmSanctify this Dwithered heart of Gmine
EmStay with me unDtil my life is Gthrough
And Emon that day please Dtake me home with Gyou"
[Chorus 4]
I can smell the death on the sGheets, covering me
I can't believe this is the DendA  
I can hear You wGhisper to me "It's time to leave
You'll never be G/Bblonely aDgain"A  
But Dthis was my Gdeathbed, I Adied there Bmalone
When I Dclosed my eyes toGnight
You Acarried me G/DhomeD  
[Instrumental]
    G/D      Dx8ish
Ending
DI am the WD/F#ay, follow Bm7Me and take My hGadd9andAsus4  
And DI am the TD/F#ruth, emBm7brace Me and yAou'll undersGadd9tand
And DI am the LD/F#ight, and for CMe you'll live aGgain
For GI   Aam   BmLove
GI   Aam   BmLove
DI           Em7  Gmaj7I      Aam   DLove

All chords in this song (24)

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Deathbed

by Relient K

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

E/G#

C/G

D/F#

A/C#

D/A

A/G#

A/G

F/D

G/Bb

G/D

Bm7

Gadd9

Asus4

[Chorus 1]

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me

F C G

I can't believe this is the end

C F G Am

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone

C F

If I close my eyes tonight

G C

I know I'll be home

[Verse 1]

C Gm

The year was nineteen forty one

Bb F

I was eight years old and far, far too young

C Gm

To know that the stories, of battles and glory

Bb F

Was a tale a kind mother made up for her son, You see

C Gm

Dad was a traveling preacher

Bb F

Teaching the words of the Teacher

C Gm

And mother had sworn he went off to the war

Bb F

And died there with honor, somewhere on a beach there

Am E/G#

But he left once to never return

C/G D/F#

Which taught me that I should unlearn

F C

Whatever I thought a father should be

Eb D/F#

I abandoned that thought like he abandoned me

D A/C#

By forty seven I was fourteen

C G

I'd acquired a taste for liquor and nicotine

Gm D/A

I smoked until I threw up

A A/G# A/G

Yeah, I still lit 'em up for thirty more years

Like a machine

F C

So right there you have it

F C

That one filthy habit

F/D C G

Is what got me where I am today

[Chorus 2]

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me

F C G

I can't believe this is the end

I can hear those sad memories, still haunting me

F C G

So many things, I'd do again

C F G Am

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone

C F

If I close my eyes tonight

G C

I know I'll be home

[Verse 2]

C Gm

I got married on my twenty first

Bb F

Eight months before my wife would give birth

C Gm

It's easier to be sure you love someone

Bb F

When her father inquires with the barrel of a gun

Am E/G#

The union was far from harmonious

C/G D/F#

No two people could have been more alone than us

F C

The years would go by and she'd love someone else

Eb D/F#

And I realized I hadn't been loved yet myself

D A

From there it's your typical spiel

C G

Yeah if life was a highway, I was drunk at the wheel

Gm D/A

I was helping the loose ends, all fall apart

A A/G# A/G

Yeah, I swear I was destined to fail

fail from the start

F C

I bowled about six times a week

F C

The bottle of Beam kept the memories from me

F C

My marriage had taken a seven-ten split

F/D C G

And along with my pride the ex-wife took the kids

[Chorus 3]

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me

F C G

I can't believe this is the end

I can hear those sad memories, still haunting me

F C G

So many things, I'd do again

C F G Am

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone

C F

If I close my eyes tonight

G C

I know I'll be home

[Verse 3]

C Gm

I was so scared of Jesus, but He sought me out

Bb F

Like the cancer in my lungs that's killing me now

C Gm

And I've given up hope on the days I have left

Bb F

But I cling to the hope of my life in the next

Am E/G#

Then Jesus showed up, said "Before we go up

C/G D/F#

I thought that we might reminisce

F C

See one night in your life, when you turned out the light

Eb D

You asked for and prayed for my forgiveness"

D Bm A

You cried wolf, the tears they soaked your fur

G Em

The blood dripped from your fangs

D A

You said "What have I done?"

Em D Bm

You loved that Lamb, with every sinful bone

A G

And there you wept alone

Em A

Your heart was so contrite

Em D G

You said, "Jesus, please forgive me of my crimes

Em D G

Sanctify this withered heart of mine

Em D G

Stay with me until my life is through

Em D G

And on that day please take me home with you"

[Chorus 4]

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me

D A

I can't believe this is the end

I can hear You whisper to me "It's time to leave

G/Bb D A

You'll never be lonely again"

D G A Bm

But this was my deathbed, I died there alone

D G

When I closed my eyes tonight

A G/D D

You carried me home

[Instrumental]

G/D D

x8ish

Ending

D D/F# Bm7 Gadd9 Asus4

I am the Way, follow Me and take My hand

D D/F# Bm7 A Gadd9

And I am the Truth, embrace Me and you'll understand

D D/F# C G

And I am the Light, and for Me you'll live again

G A Bm

For I am Love

G A Bm

I am Love

D Em7 Gmaj7 A D

I I am Love

About Deathbed Chords by Relient K

Learn how to play Deathbed by Relient K with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Deathbed chords”, “Deathbed guitar chords”, or “Relient K Deathbed 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 Deathbed chords and for experienced players who want accurate Deathbed lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, C, G, Am, Gm, Bb.

FAQ — Deathbed by Relient K

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