John Prine - Thats how every empire falls

^FHe caught a train from ^CAlexandria ^BbJust a broken man in ^Fflight ^FRunning scared with all his ^Cdevils ^BbSaying prayers all through the ^Fnight ^FBut mercy can't find ^Chim ^BbNot in the shadows where he ^Fcalls ^FForsaking all his better ^Cangels ^BbThat's how every empire ^Ffalls

^FThe bells ring out on Sunday ^Cmorning ^BbLike echoes from another ^Ftime ^FAll our innocence and ^Cyearning ^BbAnd sense of wonder left ^Fbehind ^FOh, gentle hearts ^Cremember ^BbWhat was that story his they ^Flost ^FWhen religion loses ^Cvision ^BbThat's how every empire ^Ffalls

^FHe toasts his wife and all his ^Cfamily ^BbThe providence he brought to ^Fbear ^FThey raise their glasses in his ^Chonor ^BbAlthough this union made 'em ^Fshare ^FOf a man that lives among ^Cthem ^BbBut still a stranger to them ^Fall ^FFor when a heart is never ^Copen ^BbThat's how every empire ^Ffalls

^FLock the door and board the ^Cwindows ^BbPut the people in the ^Fstreet ^FIt just my job he says I'm ^Csorry ^BbAnd draws the jackels home to ^Feat ^FBut at night he tell his ^Cwoman ^BbI know I hide behind the ^Flaws ^FShe says you are only taking ^Corders ^BbThat's how every empire ^Ffalls

^FA bitter wind blows through the ^Ccountry ^BbA hard rain falls on the ^Fsea ^FIf terror comes without a ^Cwarning ^BbThere must be something we don't ^Fsee ^FWell, fire begets this ^Cfire ^BbLike torches thrown into the ^Fstraw ^FIf no one ask and no one ^Canswers ^BbThat's how every empire ^Ffalls