Dont Be Surprised
View chords used in this chart
E Esus4 E Esus4
She was heavy with child, he had a hungry look
E Esus4 E Esus4
They were out on the road just waitin' to be took
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
And I wasn't much better, all I owned in a sack
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
But I had enough street smarts to watch my back
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
And he asked me if I knew a place they could go
F#m F#m7 B Bsus4 E Esus4 E Esus4
To keep from the wind, away from the rain and the drivin' snow
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
He said I'm good with my hands, I can work my way
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
But I don't know a soul here, there's not much I can pay
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
I just shook my head and all I could say
B Bsus4 E Esus4 E Esus4
Was don't be surprised if they turn you away
E Esus4 E Esus4
I said your child will be born to a heartless place
E Esus4 E Esus4
If he tries to do good they'll just spit in his face
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
He might heal the sick, make a lame man walk
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
And draw big crowds of people to hear his talk
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
But he'd make rich men so nervous, they'd take him away
F#m F#m7 B Bsus2 E Esus4 E Esus4
And they’d put him on trial, and twist his words to make him pay
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
He might be humble, the gentlest around
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
But that won't stop some men from puttin' him down
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
You see I don't have much faith in people these days
B Bsus4 E Esus4 E Esus4
So don't be surprised if they turn him away
E Esus4 E Esus4
Well I guess someday maybe Rome will fall
E Esus4 E Esus4
And peace could live inside Jerusalem's walls
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
And men could win at lots of things they tried
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
Grow food in the desert, maybe even learn how to fly
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
In two thousand years they'll might look back on our day
F#m F#m7 B Bsus4 E Esus4 E Esus4
They’d study about us, they’d probably wonder how in the world we could live this way
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
But the more things changed the more they stayed the same
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
And men will never give up all their hurtful games
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
A few will stand tall, a few will walk straight
B Bsus4 E Esus4 E Esus4
But most of us will fall to the fear and hate
E Esus4 E Esus4
Well I guess at the time it didn't seem so odd
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
That I was talking with Joseph and Mary, the mother of God
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
I wouldn't change a word if I saw them today
B Bsus4 E Esus4 E Esus4
And I wouldn't be so surprised if they turned them away
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
He said I'm good with my hands, I can work my way
Amaj7 A Amaj7 A
But I don't know a soul here, there's not much I can pay
F#m F#m7 F#m F#m7
I just shook my head because all I could say
B Bsus4 E Esus4
Was don't be surprised if they turn you away
How to play Dont Be Surprised
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.