Man in White, by Johnny Cash


verse 1
[G]I studied at the [C]feet of a [G]master,
[C]Gamaliel we [G]called him, the [A]beauty of the [D]law,
[C]I was born of the Tribe of Benjamin, I [G]was a Pharisee,
[C]and I could quote from [G]memory the [D]Holy [G]Torah.

verse 2
[G]That day that the [C]Nazarene was brought to [G]trial,
[C]it was on a [G]Sabbath eve ,there was a [A]earthquake when He [D]died,
[C]just another passing preacher who came [G]up from Galilee,
[C]blaspheming trouble-[G]maker, we let [D]Him be [G]crucified.

verse 3 (verse chord pattern in G)
Then I thought that I would hear no more about him,
but his friends found his tomb empty, claimed that he rose from the dead,
then they said he walked among them with the nail wounds in his hands,
that King upon a donkey with a thorn crown on his head.

(NOTE: UP ONE KEY. Emphasize somehow the change G->A.
If you have an instrument to perform the change at your place, i.e. a horn (as on the record), you might slap a capo on second fret and keep playing the G pattern, I think it's more comfortable)

verse 4
[A]His followers kept [D]growing in great [A]number,
[D]and the one that they call [A]Caiaphas mocked [B]us in the judgement [E]hall,
[D]and with the Greek name Stephen we knew the [A]gentiles had come in,
[D]I cast my vote against [A]him, he was [E]stoned I saw him [A]fall.

verse 5 (verse chord pattern in A)
Then the friends of the Nazarene became united,
and I became enraged then led a slaughter zealously,
I found their secret places, they were beaten, they were chained,
but some of them were scattered, justified in fearing me.

CHORUS
[A]Then the Man in White, appeared to [D]me,
[D]in such a blinding light it struck me [A]down,
[D]with it's brilliance, took away my sight, then the Man in [A]White,
   in [D]gentle loving [E]tone spoke to [A]me,
   and [D]I was blinded [A]so that I might [E]see, the Man in [A]White 

verse 6 (verse chord pattern in A)
But like the wind that blows the scattered sea,
from Alexandria to Antioch their congregation grew,
I went to the high priest for letters of permission,
to go to other cities, to see my mission through.

verse 7 (verse chord pattern in A)
Six days on the hot road to Damascus,
and just outside the city in the middle of the day,
a great unearthly light struck and overpowered me,
prostrate on the hot road, I was blinded were I laid.

verse 8 (verse chord pattern in A) SPOKEN with intonation
Then I thought I heard the rushing of great water,
and a multitude of angels singing sweet and heavenly,
and through the sound of wind, came a voice so soft and kind,
meant for only me to hear, "Saul, why do you persecute me?"

verse 9 (verse chord pattern in A) SPOKEN with intonation
As I lay there on the ground, in my blindness,
he asked me once again, and suddenly the voice I knew,
so finally I managed, a trembling response,
who are you Lord?, I asked him, but I already knew.

(NOTE: UP ONE KEY AND A HALF. Emphasize somehow the change A->C.
This time I'm not sure it's worth using a capo on fifth fret and keeping playing in G, if you sing alone it will get poor of bass notes... Then you might play in C or in A with a capo on third fret. It's up to you.)

verse 10 (verse chord pattern in C)
[C]I am Jesus of [F]Nazareth the voice [C]answered,
[F]arise go to [C]Damascus on the [D]street called [G]Straight will be,
[F]a place where you will wait for my [C]servant Ananais,
[F]he will open up your [C]eyes, you'll be a [G]witness unto [C]me.

verse 11 (verse chord pattern in C)
So now I live to serve my master,
as zealous in his service as I once was as his foe,
and keeping his commandments given on Damascus road,
I go to all the world, and I let the whole world know,

CHORUS
[C]Then the Man in White, appeared to [F]me,
[F]in such a blinding light it struck me [C]down,
[F]with it's brilliance, took away my sight, then the Man in [C]White,
   in [F]gentle loving [G]tone spoke to [C]me,
   and [F]I was blinded [C]so that I might [G]see, the Man in [C]White.
   and [F]I was blinded [C]so that I might [G]see, the Man in [C]White.
     [G]the Man in [C]White...

END the way you like the best.


In brief:

VERSE progression
1  4  1
4 1 2 5
4     1
4 1 5 1

CHORUS progression
1     4
1     4
4     1
1 4 5 1
4 1 5 1

Enjoy!