Intro and recurring rhythmical pattern:
Dm Cadd2 Dm Cadd2 : . . : . . : . . : . . |-1---1-1-1-1-|-1---1-1-0---|-0h1-1-1-1-1-|-1-----1-0---| |-3---3-3-3-3-|-3---3-3-3---|-3---3-3-3-3-|-3-----3-3---| |-2---2-2-2-2-|-2---2-2-0---|-0h2-2-2-2-2-|-0h2---2-0---| etc. |-0---0-0-0-0-|-0---0-0-0---|-0---0-0-0-0-|-0-----0-0---| |-0---0-0-0-0-|-0---0-0-3---|-0---0-0-0-0-|-0-----0-3---| |-0---0-0-0-0-|-0---0-0-0---|-0---0-0-0-0-|-0-----0-0---|
Dm
Come you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
Cadd2 Dm
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
*)
You that hide behind desks
Cadd2
I just want you to know
Dm
I can see through your masks
You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly
Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain
You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud
You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
Dm/f
You ain't worth the blood
Cadd2 Dm
That runs in your veins
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Cadd2
Even Jesus would never
G/b Dm
Forgive what you do
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul
And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
Dm/f
And I'll stand o'er your grave
Cadd2 Dm
'Til I'm sure that you're dead
Real Live version
A Bm A Bm
Come you masters of war
A Bm A Bm
You that build all the guns
A Bm A Bm
You that build the death planes
A Bm A Bm
You that build the big bombs
A Bm A Bm
You that hide behind walls
A Bm A Bm
You that hide behind desks
G Em
I just want you to know
Bm
I can see through your masks
Or with a capo on the second fret and the chords Am, G, F and Dm
No Direction Home version
Basically the same as the album version, but with an intro which is worth quoting:
I believe in the ten commandments, the first one: I’m the Lord thy god, it’s a great commandment if it’s not said by the wrong people.
and some nice between-verses flourishes along the lines of:
: . . : . . : . . : . . : . . : . . |-----strum upper strings throughout------|-------------|-1-------0---|-1-----------| |-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-3-------3---|-3-----------| |-0h2-----0h2-|-0-----------|-------------|-------------|-0h2-----0---|-0h2---------| |-0-----------|-----3---0---|-3---0-------|-------------|-0-----------|-0-----------| |-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|---------3---|-------------| |-------------|-------------|---------3---|-0-----------|-------------|-------------|