The Sacrament Of Killing by Cathal Coughlan
From Cathal Coughlan’s 2006 Foburg album. Written by Cathal Coughlan. No capo.
INTRO
[Gm]
VERSE 1
[Bb] [Dm7] Your leaders, they are gone, they left the gates unbolted
[Dm7] They left you stranded with the labour they imported
[Bm] Rough men like me, who can [B] not dance or read
All these [Bb] hucksters, ponces and thieves
VERSE 2
[Dm7] The meadows, pruned for golf, are turning into desert
[Dm7] The very juice of life runs short, each drop is measured
[Bm] Assets are flayed, much went [B] too long unpaid
And your [F#m] history was all washed a [C#m] way
By pride and by [Ddim] shame
Yield up skin, empty [B/D#] veins [F6] [B/D#] [F6]
VERSE 3
[Dm7] And now this creature who this morning stands before us
[Dm7] Daydreams and idleness and lust his driving forces
[Bm] The greatest folly of those [B] past days of glory
Is [F#m] that the likes of him [C#m] thrived
In their bovine [Ddim] eyes
Neither fear nor sur [B/D#] prise [F6] [B/D#] [F6]
CHORUS 1
[G7] I commend to you
The [C#m] sacrament of [Cdim] killing
To [E7] free the [Amaj7] flow
Rise [E7] up, let [Amaj7] go
VERSE 4
[Dm7] He burned his family to death as sleep ensnared them
[Dm7] He would not pay his debts, and slew those who would aid him
He [Bm] fled to the lawless and [B] bankrupt concession
[Bb] Praising his legion of fools
VERSE 5
[Dm7] He filled their heads with talk of gold here for the taking
[Dm7] All of it lies, of course, soon peasant hearts were breaking
Who, [Bm] lacking all purpose, they [B] strangled five children in [F#m] rage
Their bloodlust as [C#m] suaged
They scampered a [Ddim] way
But this “leader” re [B/D#] mains [F6] [B/D#] [F6]
CHORUS 2
So [G7] I commend to you
The [C#m] sacrament of [Cdim] killing
So [E7] pig-like [Amaj7] men
Won’t [E7] fly a [Amaj7] gain [Bb]
MIDDLE BIT
You [Ab] fear us, to [Bb7/D] you we’re [Ab] strange
Our [Bb7/D] skin tone and [Eb] commerce se [Gm] vere
But our [Ab] forefathers [Bb7/] built this [Ab] place
When [Bb7/D] yours were un [Ebmaj7] heard of here [Gm]
[Fm6] Show us you’ve learned from the [Gaug] loss and the strain
[Fm6] We might reward you with [Gaug] leave to remain
[Fm6] As we push inland to [Gaug] further our claim
But [G] first let’s give this one a [Dm7] trial
By [G] three of my peers, in the [G7] grand wartime style
CHORUS 3
[G7] And they’ll commend to you
The [C#m] sacrament of [Cdim] killing
Of [E7] course we’ll [Amaj7] hear
His [E7] pleas in good [Amaj7] cheer
CHORUS 4/OUTRO
And then, [G7] thee, I will commend to you
The [C#m] sacrament of [Cdim] killing
To [E7] free the [Amaj7] flow
Some [E7] must be [Amaj7] torn [Bbmaj7]
[Ddim]
FADE
[Dm7b5]