A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5 
{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / } 
A5              D5          A5           D5 
I've been out here for so long riding fences 
    A5                D5                 A5               D5 
I don't know what it finally was that brought me to my senses 
E5                             D5 
Was it the cold?  Was it the loneliness? 
E5                       D5               A5  D5  A5  D5 
Was it my shame at the sickness of my flesh? 
 
Rebuilding fences is an introspective undertaking 

There's no diversion to distract you from the deeper aching 

I cut the wood, I swung the hammer 

Every strike like a flash of understanding 
 
Chorus: 
E5 /D5             A5                 D5 
I    have to say everything that's on my mind 
   A5               D5          C#5  D5 
I can not keep it bottled up inside me 
           A5               D5               A5 
I have to pray, it took me far too long to find out 
         D5 
That my weakness is my testimony 
 

  A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5 
{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / } 
 
All my labor was the protest demonstration 

Of a man who had the gall to call conviction condemnation 

Till I cried for grace and I finally meant it 

Till I left my pride behind me nailed to those fences 
 
CHORUS 
  A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5     A5 
{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / }{ / / / / } 
D5                                         F#5 
Up in this altitude the cold at night can kill 
    D5                                   F#5 
My fingers got so numb, my body got so chilled 
     D5                 C#5                  B5 
It seeps into your bones and devastates your will 
     A5            D5                 A5          D5 
Oh, I'm not the strongest man, no, I'm not the only man 
     A5            D5 
No, I'm not the strongest man that's been broken in those hills 
 
CHORUS 
    A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5     A5   D5         A5 
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