American Remains - Johnny Cash [Verse 1] [Am] I am a shotgun rider for the San Jacinto [F] line The de[C]sert is my brother, my skin is cracked and [G]dry I [Am] was riding on a folk coach, and everything was[F] fine [C] Till we took a shorter road to save [G] some time The bandi[F]ts only fired once, they shot me in the [C] chest [C] They may have wounded me, but they'll never get the [G] best Of better [Am] men, cause I'll ride again. [Verse 2] [Am] I am a river gambler, I make a livin`dealin [F] cards [C] My clothes are smooth and honest, my heart is cold and [G] hard [Am] I was shuffling` for some delta boys on the boat[F] for New Orelans [C] I was the greatest shark they'd ever [G] seen [F] But the Captain bumped a sandbar, and an [C] ace fell from my sleeve [C] The threw me overboard as I swore I didn't [G] cheat But I [Am] could swim, and I'll ride again |[Chorus] |[C] We are heroes of the homeland, American [G] remains |[F] We live in many faces and answer [Am] many names |We will [C] not be forgotten, we won't be left [G] behind |[F] Our memories live on in mortal [G] minds |And poets [Am] pens, we'll ride again [Verse 3] [Am] I am a mid-west farmer, I make a livin` off the [F]land [C] I ride a John Deer tractor, I am a liberated [G] man [Am] But the rain it hasn't fallen, since the middle [F] of July [C] And if it don't come soon my crops will [G] die [Verse 4] [F] The bank man says he likes me, but there's [C] nothing he can do [C] He tells me that he's comin', but the clouds are comin' [G] too He ain't my friend, [Am] and I'll ride again. [Am] I am an American Indian, my tribe is [F] Cherokee My fore[C]fathers loves this land they left it here for [G] me But the [Am ]white man came with boats and trains and dirty [F] factories [C] And poisoned my existence with his [G] deeds [F] Nature is our mother, we are suckling at [C] her breast [C] And he who try to beat her down will lose her to the [G] rest They'll never [Am] win, I'll ride again |[Chorus] x2 |[C] We are heroes of the homeland, American [G] remains |[F] We live in many faces and answer [Am] many names |We will [C] not be forgotten, we won't be left [G] behind |[F] Our memories live on in mortal [G] minds |And poets [Am] pens, we'll ride again