I wanted an easy, but accurate version of this song so I ended up writing the chords myself (first one ever!). It's such a lovely song and hope more people can enjoy it as a result of my chords! Capo 5 C I can smell the death on the sheets C Covering me C G I can't believe this is the end G C But this is my deathbed D Em I lie here alone G C If I close my eyes tonight D G I know I'll be home G Dm The year was nineteen forty one F I was eight years old and C Far, far too young G To know that the stories Dm Of battles and glory F Was a tale a kind mother C Made up for her son You see G Dm Dad was a traveling preacher F C Teaching the words of the Teacher G My mother had sworn he Dm Went off to the war F And died there with honor C Somewhere on a beach there Em B But he left once to never return G A Which taught me that I should unlearn C G Whatever I thought a father should be Bb I abandoned that thought A Like he abandoned me A A9 By forty seven I was fourteen G D I'd acquired a taste for liquor and nicotine Dm A I smoked until I threw up E Yet I still lit 'em up Emaj7 E7 For thirty more years A Like a machine C G So right there you have it C G That one filthy habit Am G D Is what got me where I am today C I can smell the death on the sheets Covering me C G D I can't believe this is the end C I can hear those sad memories Still haunting me, So many things C G D I'd do again G C But this is my deathbed D Em I lie here alone G C If I close my eyes tonight D G I know I'll be home G Dm I got married on my twenty first F C Eight months before my wife would give birth G Dm It's easier to be sure you love someone F C When her father inquires with the barrel of a gun Em B The union was far from harmonious G A No two people could have been more alone than us C G The years would go by and she'd love someone else Bb A And I realized I hadn't been loved yet myself A A9 From there it's your typical spiel G Yeah if life was a highway D I was drunk at the wheel Dm I was seeing the loose ends A All fall apart E Emaj7 E7 Yeah I swear I was destined to fail A And fail from the start C G I bowled about six times a week C G The bottle of Beam kept the memories from me C G The marriage had taken a seven-ten split Am G D And along with my pride the ex-wife took the kids C I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me C G D I can't believe this is the end C I can hear those sad memories Still haunting me So many things C G D I'd do again G C But this is my deathbed D Em I lie here alone G C If I close my eyes tonight D G I know I'll be home G I was so scared of Jesus Dm But He sought me out F Like the cancer in my lungs C That's killing me now G And I've given up hope Dm On the days I have left F But I cling to the hope C Of my life in the next Em Then Jesus showed up B Said, "Before we go up G A I thought that we might reminisce C See one night in your life G When you turned out the light Bb A You asked for and prayed for my forgiveness" A You cried wolf F#m E The tears they soaked your fur D Bm The blood dripped from your fangs A E You said, "What have I done?" Bm You loved that Lamb A F#m With every sinful bone E And there you wept alone Bm E Your heart was so contrite Bm A D You said, "Jesus, please forgive me of my crimes Bm A D Sanctify this withered heart of mine Bm A D Stay with me until my life is through Bm A D And on that day please take me home with you" D I can smell the death on the sheets Covering me A E I can't believe this is the end D I can hear You whisper to me, "It's time to leave A E You'll never be lonely again" A D But this was my deathbed E F#m I died there alone A D When I closed my eyes tonight E D You carried me home Instrumental : (D A) x many times [Jon Foreman] A C#m I am the Way F#m Follow Me D E And take My hand A C#m And I am the Truth F#m D E Embrace Me and you'll understand A C#m And I am the Light G D And for Me you'll live again D E F#m For I am Love D E F#m I am Love A D D E A I, I am Love