Under American Skies

Intro

Verse 1
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She was born dirt poor grew up gangly and tall
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and the state gave her no real protection at all
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her father get drunk and he beat her so  bad
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and her mother wouldn't help her man was all that she had
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at school her teachers just closed their eyes
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to the bruises on her arms on her neck and her thighs
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she was learning that the world was bitter and cold
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she was only a child she was already old
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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