Verse 1:
                        Fm
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
                         Eb
It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'
                         Db
It's not forgoin' of the lie
            Ab            C
It's not the openin' of eyes
               Bbm               Fm
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
 

                              Fm
It's not the shade we should be past it
                            Eb
It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it
                              Db
It's the heat that drives the light
          Ab       C
It's the fire it ignites
              Bbm                Fm
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
 

                             Fm
It's not the song, it is the singin'
                       Eb
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
                          Db
It is the bringin' of the line
            Ab             C
It is the barin' of the rhyme
               Bbm               Fm
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
 
Chorus:
                Fm
And I could cry power (power)
Ab
Power (power)
Db
Power Lord (power)
Db
Nina cried power
Ab             C
Billie cried power
Bbm           Fm
Mavis cried power
 

                Fm
And I could cry power
Ab
Power (power)
Db
Power Lord (power)
Db
Curtis cried power
Ab             C
Patti cried power
Bbm           Fm
Nina cried power
 
Verse 2:
                               Fm
It's not the war but what's behind it
                    Eb
Oh, the fear of fellow men, his mere assignment
                          Db
And everythin' that we're denied
     Ab            C
by keepin' the divide
                Bbm              Fm
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
 
Chorus:
                Fm
And I could cry power
Ab
Power (power)
Db
Power Lord (power)
Db
Nina cried power
Ab         C
Lennon cried power
Bbm                 Fm
James Brown cried power
 

               Fm
And I could cry power
Ab
Power (power)
Db
Power Lord (power)
Db
Billie cried power
Ab            C
Joni cried power
Bbm          Fm
Nina cried power
 
Bridge:
                Fm
And I could cry power
               Fm
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
                  Ab                        C           Bbm
Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains
        Fm
If you love bein' free
 
Chorus:
                     Fm
Ah, lord I could cry power
Ab
Power (power)
                   Db
'Cause power is my love
                   Db
when my love reaches to me
                 Db
James Brown cried power
Ab          C
Seeger cried power
Bbm         Fm
Marvin cried power
Yeah ah, power
 
Outro:
Fm          Ab
James cried power
Db
Millie cried power
Db
Patti cried power
Db
Billie, power,
Ab
Dylan, power
C
Woody, power
Bbm       Fm
Nina cried power
 This arrangement is its contributor’s own interpretation, shared for private study, education and non-commercial use. The underlying song, lyrics and music remain the property of their copyright owners. To request removal, see Legal & Copyright.