Alkaline Trio
The American Scream

Standard Tuning



e|--7---7---7---7---7---7---5---4----|
B|----5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5--|
G|-----------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|Lead if you have another guitar

Intro
E   F#m C#m
E   F#m C#m

Verse 1
           E                F#m             C#m
Well they tied that yellow ribbon round the oak tree.
         E                 F#m                C#m                       
They've worn out all the prayer in their hearts.
     A                       E               B                
All along thought they were routing for the home team,
            A                           B     C5           
As they're sent to the game and torn apart.


    E               F#m            C#m                        
We twist this tourniquet upon the pipeline,
         E               F#m               C#m             
That he carries all the pain in the world.
        A                E              B                     
As we blindly clap and cheer from the sidelines
                  A                           B             
It's clear, on a losing streak from the very start.

Chorus
     C5                    C#m A   E                               
And that's where they found me,
    B        C#m A   E   B                                          
In the cemetery.
          C#m        A                                         
A smoking gun in my hand,
              E           B             A                     
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
          B                                                 
Sing with me,                                                           
                E                                            
The american scream.

Intro
E   F#m C#m
E   F#m C#m

Verse 2
     E                F#m            C#m                        
They took that faded ribbon off the oak tree.
         E                F#m           C#m                   
They've worn out all the hope in their hearts.
     A               E              B                         
All along thought I was doing the right thing,
          A                    B                             
Now I'm lying in a pool of my blood.

Chorus
     C5                    C#m A   E                               
And that's where they found me,
    B        C#m A   E   B                                          
In the cemetery.
          C#m        A                                         
A smoking gun in my hand,
              E           B             A                     
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
          B                                                 
Sing with me,
                                                           
                          C#m A   E                               
And that's where they found me,
    B        C#m A   E   B                                          
In the cemetery.
          C#m        A                                         
A smoking gun in my hand,
              E           B             A                     
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
          B                                                 
Sing with me,                                                           


Bridge (Solo)
                E  A   C#m B A
The american scream.
                E  A   C#m B A
The american scream.

Chorus
                           C#m A   E                               
And that's where they found me,
    B        C#m A   E   B                                          
In the cemetery.
          C#m        A                                         
A smoking gun in my hand,
              E           B             A                     
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
          B                                                 
Sing with me,                                                           
                C#m~~                                            
The american scream.