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You Know Its Dark When Atheists Start To Pray - Jesse Malin

You Know Its Dark When Atheists Start To Pray

View chords used in this chart

Verse

Am

Joey was a man from the other side

G

Came across the sea for a better life

F E

When he got close they made him change his name

Am

Push along a cart through the market place

G

Keep it in your heart when you're getting spades

F E

But that was so many years ago

Pre-Chorus

C F

I lived in many places, I've fallen out of graces

C G

I tried to feed the fire for so long

[Refrão]C

Hey man, where you going

F

Up town the river's rolling

C G C

The sun comes, I'll be on my way

Verse

Am

A Nietzsche mustache and a peasant's hat

G

Five hungry kids in a water flat

F E

Maybe I'll make a little more today

Am

A new world dream and some old school pride

G

He couldn't make a meet so he took his life

C E

I saw a photograph and made memories in my mind

Pre-Chorus

C F

I've fallen out of graces, I've ran so many races

C G

I tried to breathe the fire for so long

[Refrão]C

Hey man, where you going

F

Up town the river's rolling

C G C

The sun comes, I'll be on my way

C F C G C F C G

Verse

C

Well he was on the blacklist in '53

F

And he talked about the conspiracy

Am G

He said the next war is gonna blow us all away

C

I played in churches and I prayed in bars

F

A young kid with a sad guitar

Am G

To get close I had to go far away

C

Well I became a drifter

F

Sent postcards to my sister

Am G

And I can hear her smile even when I'm far away

[Refrão]C

Hey man, where you going

F

Up town the river's rolling

C G C

The sun comes, I'll be on my way

Verse

C

Well I drank with kings and danced with whores

F

On mountain tops and distant shores

Am G

But you made me feel like someone I wished to be

C

I tried to wear my father's clothes

F

I planted seeds that didn't grow

Am G

With a handful of thorns I thought that I was free

C

Worked in a bank, drove a diesel van

F

Even Sonny Wortzik had a plan

Am G

Do your time and get out of society

[Refrão]C

Hey man, where you going

F

Up town the river's rolling

C G C

The sun comes, I'll be on my way

Verse

C

Now you're sitting in an office, you've never seen the world

F

Gonna blame it on the government or a girl

Am G

But there's somewhere else you know you'd rather be

C

Scratching off the numbers in a liquor store

F

Dreaming of picking up a '44

Am G

Tell me more about your fantasy

[Refrão]C

Hey man, where you going

F

Up town the river's rolling

C G C

The sun comes, I'll be on my way

C F C G C F C G

Verse

C

From Spanish Harlem to Ditmas Park

F

A lonely game of court and spark

Am G

I wrote a song, I figured it's the only way

C

And the girls from school all married stiffs

F

With a flat screen and couple kids

Am G

And they say a prayer in their own little way

C

Well a friend of mine became a priest

F

And we lost another in the Middle East

Am G

Well, you know it's dark when atheists start to pray

[Refrão]C

Hey man, where you going

F

Up town the river's rolling

C G C

The sun comes, I'll be on my way

Verse

C

Boxes in the corner neatly stacked

F

Parts of me, paper and wax

Am G

For a headline day to ride in that Cadillac

C

And when it's over and I've had my fill

F

They're gonna put my body up on Cypress Hill

Am G

Near Houdini for the final disappearing act

[Refrão]C

Hey man, where you going

F

Up town the river's rolling

C G C

The sun comes, I'll be on my way

C

Hey man, whatcha doing

F

All along the road to ruin

C G G

You know it's dark when Atheists start to pray

Verse

F C G

From the fox holes to the quarter

C F C

Got your mojo workin'

G C F C

Or whatever you believe in, all your voodoo

G C F C

Well, the river runs deep and the river runs wide

Outro

F C G C F C G C

F C G C F C G C

F C G C F C

How to play You Know Its Dark When Atheists Start To Pray

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 Am. 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.

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