F
I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
FCG
I can't believe this is the end
CFGAm
But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone
CF
If I close my eyes tonight
GC
I know I'll be home
[Verse 1]
CG
The year was nineteen forty one
BbF
I was eight years old and far, far too young
CG
To know that the stories, of battles and glory
BbF
Was a tale a kind mother made up for her son, You see
CG
Dad was a traveling preacher
BbF
Teaching the words of the Teacher
CG
And mother had sworn he went off to the war
BbF
And died there with honor, somewhere on a beach there
AmE/G#
But he left once to never return
C/GD/F#
Which taught me that I should unlearn
FC
Whatever I thought a father should be
EbD/F#
I abandoned that thought like he abandoned me
DA/C#
By forty seven I was fourteen
CG
I'd acquired a taste for liquor and nicotine
GmD/A
I smoked until I threw up
AA/G#A/G
Yeah, I still lit 'em up for thirty more years
D
Like a machine
FC
So right there you have it
FC
That one filthy habit
F/DCG
Is what got me where I am today
[Chorus 2]
F
I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
FCG
I can't believe this is the end
F
I can hear those sad memories, still haunting me
FCG
So many things, I'd do again
CFGAm
But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone
CF
If I close my eyes tonight
GC
I know I'll be home
[Verse 2]
CG
I got married on my twenty first
BbF
Eight months before my wife would give birth
CG
It's easier to be sure you love someone
BbF
When her father inquires with the barrel of a gun
AmE/G#
The union was far from harmonious
C/GD/F#
No two people could have been more alone than us
FC
The years would go by and she'd love someone else
EbD/F#
And I realized I hadn't been loved yet myself
DA
From there it's your typical spiel
CG
Yeah if life was a highway, I was drunk at the wheel
GmD/A
I was helping the loose ends, all fall apart
AA/G#A/G
Yeah, I swear I was destined to fail
D
fail from the start
FC
I bowled about six times a week
FC
The bottle of Beam kept the memories from me
FC
My marriage had taken a seven-ten split
F/DCG
And along with my pride the ex-wife took the kids
[Chorus 3]
F
I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
FCG
I can't believe this is the end
F
I can hear those sad memories, still haunting me
FCG
So many things, I'd do again
CFGAm
But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone
CF
If I close my eyes tonight
GC
I know I'll be home
[Verse 3]
CG
I was so scared of Jesus, but He sought me out
BbF
Like the cancer in my lungs that's killing me now
CG
And I've given up hope on the days I have left
BbF
But I cling to the hope of my life in the next
AmE/G#
Then Jesus showed up, said "Before we go up
C/GD/F#
I thought that we might reminisce
FC
See one night in your life, when you turned out the light
EbD
You asked for and prayed for my forgiveness"
DBmA
You cried wolf, the tears they soaked your fur
GEm
The blood dripped from your fangs
DA
You said "What have I done?"
EmDBm
You loved that Lamb, with every sinful bone
AG
And there you wept alone
EmA
Your heart was so contrite
EmDG
You said, "Jesus, please forgive me of my crimes
EmDG
Sanctify this withered heart of mine
EmDG
Stay with me until my life is through
EmDG
And on that day please take me home with you"
[Chorus 4]
G
I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
DA
I can't believe this is the end
G
I can hear You whisper to me "It's time to leave
G/BbDA
You'll never be lonely again"
DGABm
But this was my deathbed, I died there alone
DG
When I closed my eyes tonight
AG/DD
You carried me home
[Instrumental]
G/D D x8ish
[Ending]
DD/F#BmG
I am the Way, follow me and take My hand
DD/F#BmAG
And I am the truth, embrace Me and you'll understand
DD/F#CG
That I am the Light, and for Me you'll live again
GABm
For I am Love
GABm
I am Love
D/F#GDAD
I I am Love