John Prine - Thats how every empire falls

^DHe caught a train from Alexand^Aria, ^Gjust a broken man in ^Dflight ^DRunnin' scared with his de^Avils, ^Gsayin' prayers all through the ^Dnight ^DBut mercy can't fi^And him, ^Gnot in the shadows where he c^Dalls ^DForsaking all his better a^Angels: ^GThat's how every empire ^Dfalls

^DThe bells ring out on Sunday ^Amorning ^Glike echoes from another ^Dtime ^DAll our innocence and ^Ayearning ^Gand sense of wonder left ^Dbehind ^DOh gentle hearts ^Aremember, ^GWhat was that story? Is it ^Dlost? ^DFor when religion loses ^Avision, ^GThat's how every empire ^Dfalls

^DHe toasts his wife and all his ^Afamily, ^Gthe providence he brought to ^Dbear ^DThey raise their glasses in his ^Ahonor ^Galthough this union they don't ^Dshare ^DA man who lives a^Among them ^Gwas still a stranger to them ^Dall ^DFor when the heart is never ^Aopen, ^GThat's how every empire ^Dfalls

^DPadlock the door and board the ^Awindows, ^Gput the people in the ^Dstreet ^D"It's just my job," he says, "I'm ^Asorry," ^Gand draws a check, goes home to ^Deat ^DAt night he tells his ^Awoman, ^G"I know I hide behind the ^Dlaws" ^DShe says, "You're only taking ^Aorders": ^GThat's how every empire ^Dfalls

^DA bitter wind blows through the ^Acountry, a^G hard rain falls on the ^Dsea ^DIf terror comes without a w^Aarning, ^Gthere must be something we don't ^Dsee ^DWhat fire begets this ^Afire, ^Glike torches thrown into the ^Dstraw? ^DIf no one asks, then no one ^Aanswers: ^GThat's how every empire ^Dfalls