When He Returns

Written by: Bob Dylan
From: “Slow Train Coming” (1979)
Tabbed by: maguri
Tuning: Standard
Originally a piano gospel-ballad, this is my reading for
guitar accompaniment.

capo: 1st fret
play: G
key: Ab

TURNAROUND
  D9 G/D  D7 C/D
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

CHORDS
Many of the D chords in the verses can also be played as D7.
      E-A-D-G-B-e
C/G   3-x-2-0-1-0
G/D   x-x-0-0-0-x
G/B   x-2-0-0-0-x
G/F#  2-x-0-0-0-x

Intro

| C/G G | G/D D | C/G G | C/G G |

Verse 1

C/G       G                G/D   D
 The iron hand it ain't no match
        C/G  G   | C/G G |
For the iron rod
C/G            G         G/D              D
 The strongest wall will crumble and fall
     C/G    G   | C/G G   G/F#|
To a mighty God
    Em                 G/D          C              G/D
For all those who have eyes and all those who have ears
Em          G/D          C   G/B    |  D  D6 |  D7  |
 It is only He who can reduce me to tears
C/G        G       G/D       D
 Don't you cry and don't you die
    C/G       G   | C/G G |
And don't you burn
       C/G          G                    G/D        D
Like a thief in the night, He'll replace wrong with right
     C/G  G      | D9 G/D D7 C/D |
When He returns     (TURNAROUND)

Verse 2

C/G          G             G/D     D
 Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow
        C/G    G       | C/G G |
That it passes through
     C/G         G           Am7     D
He unleashed His power at an unknown hour
     C/G    G   | C/G  G G/F# |
That no one knew
Em              G/D           C       D    G
 How long can I listen to the lies of prejudice?
Em                   G/D               C      G/B  |  D  D6 |  D7  |
 How long can I stay drunk on fear out in the wilderness?
      C/G      G              G/D              D
Can I cast it aside, all this loyalty and this pride?
       C/G  G    | C/G G |
Will I ever learn
              C/G         G           G/D       D
That there'll be no peace,   that the war won't cease
      C/G  G      | D9 G/D D7 C/D |
Until He returns?

Verse 3

C/G             G             G/D           D
 Surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground
     C/G      G     | C/G G |
Take off your mask
C/G           G         G/D             D
 He sees your deeds, He knows your needs
       C/G      G     | C/G   G G/F# |
Even before you ask
Em               G/D          C        D    G
How long can you falsify and deny what is real?
Em                G/D                   C      G/B   |  D  D6 | D7 G/D D C |
 How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal?
[ C ]      C/G  G  G            G/D          D
  Of every earthly plan that be known to man
      C/G  G     | C/G G |
He is unconcerned
         C/G          G          G/D            D
He's got plans of His own to set up His throne
       C/G  G     | C/G G |
When-a He returns

Outro

| C/G G | C/G G |
 (fade out)