Amen
View chords used in this chart
Jeff Rosenstock's song "Amen" from his album "I Look Like Shit"
E
Waiting to go to school on some suburban road
A F#
They took my backpack and emptied it in the snow
E E Dbm A
The kids at the bus stop screamed nothing.
E
I saw an old lady one time on Astor Place
A F#
steal an old man's glasses and punch him in the face
E E Dbm A
Me and the others screamed nothing.
A
And what's the difference if the bombs fall from the sky
E Abm Dbm Abm
And what's the difference if you like being alive
A B E
Yeah what's the difference, 'cause we're all just gonna die.
E
A crucifix and two framed pictures of the pope
A F#
I passed them all as I got evicted from my home.
A B(once) E Dbm A
My Catholic landlord screamed "Amen."
A
We don't believe in God or spirits in the sky.
E Abm F#m B
Unless we're desperate and need to justify
A B
the shitty things we do so we apologize
Dbm E
"Ya gotta get rid of my guilt, God."
A
Before I fled the scene I smeared my shit along the baseboards
E Abm
Took the moldy foodstuffs, lined them up along the tile floor
A
Jerked off on the window screen, fridge open and toilet running
E Abm F#m D
Barely felt reprieve before the deluge of regret came flooding
A
Now I can't get to sleep because I have this useless conscience.
E Abm
And I can't get revenge due to this stupid moral compass.
A B E
And honestly I feel that all these feelings aren't worth it in the end.
(interlude; listen for chord changes, I tried to make it make sense):
E F# B A
F#m E
B E
E F# B A
F# A
B E
A
We don't believe in God or spirits in the sky
E Ab F# F#m
Unless we're desperate or know someone who died.
A B
We gain perspective and we start to change our lives
Dbm A
Then still do shitty things when the moment arrives.
A
So what's the difference if the bombs fall from the sky
E Abm F# B
So what's the difference if you like being alive
A B
Yeah what's the fucking point of thinking as you die
Dbm
"Ya gotta forgive all my sins, God."
(end; listen for changes and shit):
E Dbm A E Abm A B Ab E Dbm A E Ab A
I used 'b' for flat because that's what I typed, and 'm' is minor
it's probably not perfect by any means but this is what was on "chordify." I kind of like playing an F#7
instead of the F# just because I like the chord but what do I know.
How to play Amen
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is E. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.