Dm e|----1----| B|----3----| G|----2----| D|----0----| A|---0-----| D|--0------| Am e|----0----| B|----1----| G|----2----| D|----2----| A|----0----| D|---------| G e|----3----| B|----3----| G|----4----| D|----5----| A|---------| D|---------| Intro e|--1---0-----1---0-3s1------------1---0-----1---0--------| B|--3---1-----3---1----------------3---1-----3---1--------| G|--2---2-----2---2----------------2---2-----2---2--------| D|--0---2-----0---2----------------0---2-----0---2--------| A|-0----0----0----0---------0h3s0-0----0----0----0--------| D|0---------0----------0h3h5-----0---------0--------------| Verse 1 Dm She was born dirt poor grew up gangly and tall Am and the state gave her no real protection at all Dm her father get drunk and he beat her so bad Am G and her mother wouldn't help her man was all that she had Am at school her teachers just closed their eyes G to the bruises on her arms on her neck and her thighs Am she was learning that the world was bitter and cold G she was only a child she was already old Am G Dm Am Dm Am family ties under american skies. Verse 2 (same chords) As she grew up she learned to close down her heart she turned away from love she wouldn't let love start when a man tried rapping a west tex'n rain she left him dying writhing in pain like a wounded animal she lashed out mean doing what she learned doing what she'd seen that kind of justice never heals the hurt and her tears mixed with blood on her raggedy shirt anger cries, under American skies Verse 3 (same chords) When we ended slavery we all went free When we stopped child labor that was victory When women started voting to democracy But we still haven't got and we can't let it be When we're part of a system against it or willing And every last time that the state starts the killing A part of us dies, under American skies Verse 4 (same chords) They caught her down by the Santa Fe tracks And the paper called her one of those drug maniacs The rapist was a member of society so she got no bill she got a lawyer for free that court appointed lawyer had a vacant smile he raised no objections and he slept through the trial just like her daddy had booze on his breath the jury said guilty and the judge said death pity flies, under American skies Verse 5 (same chords) They sent her to Huntsville they sent her to hell They sent her up to Terrel to a locked down cell She sat on her cot a couple of years crept by her appeals ran out and she prepared to die her final dress was just a hospital gown they put her on a gurney and strapped her down put needles in her arm under surgical tape And several minutes later she had made her escape Sad goodbyes, under American skies Verse 6 (same chords) When we ended slavery we all went free When we stopped child labor that was victory When women started voting to democracy But we still haven't got and we can't let it be When we're part of a system against it or willing And every last time that the state starts the killing A part of us dies, under American skies Part of us dies, under American skies By biznock09 aka BFRI I haven't seen tab for this song anywhere else, so paste it anywhere you can email for questions or corrections bardoo9@yahoo.com