Am F C Em
Am F C Em Am

 [Verse 1]
   Am
Excuses are easy
      F
When everything’s on the line
       C
These Montana magpies
            Em
With their black and their white

Am
Feathers sitting
F
Side by side
          C
Bring an unknown offering
    Em
Of something we should try

          Am
Was he a monster or a martyr
      F
It depends on who you ask
    C
But once it’s done
    Em             Am
You can’t take it back

[Chorus]
          F
How can I keep my mind open
   C
If my eyes are closed
      Dm
It’s hard to hide the hate
              F           G
When there is no love to show
          F
How can I nail a man up
        C
For the color of his skin
           Dm
Knock him down, make him pay
    F            G
For my father’s sin
C Em Am
I am starting to see
       G        F           G       C
We are all the color of the scars we keep

 [Verse 2]
      Am
“I’ll show you when you’re older”
    F
My father always said
C
But he never did
    Em
Get old enough for that

      Am
Every sunday afternoon
       F
Denim shirt, cowboy hat
C
Out in the sun
          Em
Throwing shadows and an axe

          Am
There’s a tool for every job
      F
And a job for every man
    C
Be careful
         Em          Am
What you put in your hands


[Chorus]
          F
How can I keep my mind open
   C
If my eyes are closed
     Dm
It’s hard to hide the hate
              F           G
When there is no love to show
          F
How can I nail a man up
         C
For the color of his skin
          Dm
Knock him down, make him pay
    F            G
For my father’s sin
C Em Am
I am starting to see
       G        F            G        C
We are all the color of the scars we keep

[Solo]
Am F C Em
Am F C Em
Am F C Em Am

[Verse 3]
Am
These times are hard
          F
And it’s harder to heal
      C
When where you were born
  Em
Decides what you fear

     Am
It’s time to be a brother
    F
Not my father’s son
       C
I was born to be a bigot
               Em
But that don’t mean that I am one

          Am
I put my boots on just the same
    F
And when the day is done
   C
I pray
     Em    Am
For you, my son

[Chorus]
           F
How can I keep my mind open
   C
If my eyes are closed
     Dm
It’s hard to hide the hate
              F           G
When there is no love to show
           F
How can I nail a man up
         C
For the color of his skin
           Dm
Knock him down, make him pay
    F           G
For my father’s sin
C Em Am
I am starting to see
        G       F            G        C
We are all the color of the scars we keep

[Outro]
        G       F            G        C
We are all the color of the scars we keep