Rotting On Remand
View chords used in this chart
(Billy Bragg)
C
I stood before the judge that day
F C
As he refused my bail
And I knew that I would spend my time
G
Awaiting trial in jail
C
I said there is no justice
F C
As they led me out of the door
F C
And the judge said, "This isn't a court of justice son
G C
This is a court of law".
C
They first sent me to Windsor
F C
And then to Stoke on Trent
In a holding cell in Liverpool
G
Three days and nights I spent
C
My solicitor can't find me
F C
And my family don't know
F C
I keep telling them that I'm innocent
G C C7
They just say, "Come on son, in you go."
F C
I was picked up on suspicion of something I haven't done
C B/C A/C G/C G
Here I sit in 'F' wing waiting for my trial to come
F C F
It's a cruel unusual punishment that society demands
C G C
Innocent till proven guilty, rotting on remand
F C G C A7
D
I ended up in this jail
G D
Built in 18-82
When one man to one prison cell
A
Was a Victorian value
D
Now three of us are squeezed in here
G D
And you can't escape the smell
G D
Of that bucket in the corner
A D
And we eat in here as well
They let me out of this cage
G D
To slop that bucket out
To get my food and bring it back
A
And if I'm lucky, get a shower
D
Apart from one hours exercise
G D
I'm locked in here all day
G D
You don't turn criminals into citizens
A D D7
By treating them this way
G D
Is the prize of law and order the stench of Wormwood Scrubs
D C#/D B/D A/D A
With judges quick to sentence sending more down from above
G D G
It's a cruel unusual punishment that society demands
D A D
Innocent till proven guilty, rotting on remand G D A D ...
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Francois Rousseau
Laboratoire Incognito (Computer Languages)
Universite de Montreal, Canada
E-mail: rousseaf@iro.umontreal.ca
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How to play Rotting On Remand
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 C. 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.