Misc Praise Songs – Prayer For Peace (Guitar)

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Words by Ian Boyden, music by Ralph Dale. Aka "America's Prayer." From The Vietnam Songbook (1969), edited by Barbara Dane and Irwin Silber. [Verse 1]

Am     Bb     C          Bb
Gentle Jesus, bless each bomb

   C      D      E   C#
We drop today in Vietnam,

    G        F   G       G#
And keep our helicopters safe

     C       G#   F   Gaug   Cm
From natives they fly low to strafe.

[Verse 2]

Am      Bb      C          Bb
Lord of Life, increase our skill

   C        D     E   C#
To build up added Overkill,

    G      F   G      G#
And let no pacifist decry

    C       G# F Gaug   Cm
The strontium-90 in our sky.

[Verse 3]

Am       Bb      C    Bb
Heavenly Father, we entreat

    C      D        E      C#
Let no one sell the Cubans wheat,

    G        F     G      G#
And grant us power to chastise

     C  G#   F   Gaug Cm
All insubordinate allies.

[Verse 4]

Am   Bb      C       Bb
Holy Spirit, give us grace

   C       D      E       C#
To win the guided missile race,

    G        F    G      G#
And help our scientists amass

     C   G#   F  Gaug      Cm
Vast arsenals of germs and gas.

[Verse 5]

Am           Bb         C        Bb
From further dwindling, Lord, preserve

    C    D         E      C#
Our ever-shrinking gold reserve,

    G    F           G         G#
And we beseech Thee, come what may,

    C   G#   F   Gaug    Cm
Let overseas investments pay.

[Verse 6]

Am          Bb           C         Bb
The world's most upright Christian land,

   C         D         E      C#
We ask these blessings at Thy hand—

   G         F      G       G#
Be Thine the glory, Lord on high,

     C     G#   F   Gaug     Cm
When women weep and children die.

F C
Amen.