[Intro]
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
F - Am - | Dm - F - | Bb - C - | Dm - - - |
Bb - A - | F - G - | C - F - | Bb - - F | (hold F one full measure)
F Am Dm F Bb C Dm
Bb A F G C F Bb F
[Verse 1]
F Am
I have a new hero now, a handsome
Dm F
Black man from a different time
Bb C Dm
A previous decade in a fast-paced America
Bb A
I have a brand new take on history and now
F G
I believe in the law, yes sir, I do
C F Bb F
Believe in things like America, I still do believe
F Am
When people say they love the law
Dm F
This model of a man is what they talk about
Bb C Dm
A tower of a man in the history of this great country
Bb A
A righteous and a mighty force to wash away
F
The shameful sins of a dark chapter
G C F Bb F
In the history of this fine land, you see
[Chorus]
Bb C Dm F
Hey, Thurgood Marshall, won't you help me out
Bb C Dm F
'cause I've been slowly fading away this year
Bb C Dm F
And Thurgood Marshall, don't you let me down
Bb Bb (hold)
'cause I want to be inspired and a-mystified by the law
[Instrumental]
F Am Dm F Bb C Dm
Bb A F G C F Bb F
[Verse 2]
F Am
Oh, Aristotle once said the law is reason
Dm F
Free from passion, feeling and emotion,
Bb C Dm
Or some other rich earth bullshit like that
Bb A
But Thurgood Marshall was a man so full of heart
F G
That made the law bow down and recognize
C F
That love and earnest respect is what this
Bb F
Country is all about
F Am
I was a sad law student lost in all the books
Dm F
Piled in a corner of the library,
Bb C Dm
A weary caffeinated soldier of the big man
Bb A
And Justice Marshall reached out of the history books
F G
And spoke to me, 'cause those dead do rise again
C F Bb F
Yes sir they still do rise again
[Chorus]
Bb C Dm F
Hey, Thurgood Marshall, won't you help me out
Bb C Dm F
'cause I've been slowly fading away this year
Bb C Dm F
And Thurgood Marshall, don't you let me down
Bb Bb (hold)
'cause I want to be inspired and a-mystified by the law
[Instrumental]
F Am Dm F Bb C Dm
Bb A F G C F Bb F
[Verse 3]
F Am Dm F
Some day in the future, I'll have whiskey and fine cigars
Bb C Dm
I'll have a favorite steak restaurant down on wall street
Bb A F
I'll done club a young seal pup for the corporation and
G C
I won't know what to do with all this viscous
F Bb F
Garnet blood on my hands
F Am
I'll need a sermon on the mount, need to be born again
Dm F Bb C Dm
Turn a new leaf, a second spring, a new and visceral reminder
Bb A
That good can triumph over evil, and the law
F G
Can be a terrifying blunt force to strike the
C F Bb F
Love of country into brave young hearts
[Chorus]
Bb C Dm F
Hey, Thurgood Marshall, won't you help me out
Bb C Dm F
'cause I've been slowly fading away this year
Bb C Dm F
And Thurgood Marshall, don't you let me down
Bb Bb (hold)
'cause I want to be inspired and a-mystified by the law
[Outro]
F Am Dm F Bb C Dm
Bb A F G C F Bb F