My Defense Is God — Nashville Number Chart Key: G major | 137 BPM | 4/4 4=C 5=D 6m=Em 1=G 2m=Am Public domain (CC0). Transcribed from the audio — verify by ear. ================================================== [Intro (a lone jangling 12-string rings out over a low Hammond swell -- half-spoken, road-worn, unbothered)] 1 4 1 4 (They came with a whisper, they came with a lie,) 1 4 1 4 (words I never spoke, held up to the sky;) 1 1 5 5 6m (but I know where I run when the hunt draws near --) 6m 4 4 1 (to the One who won't leave me. He's right here.) [Verse 1 (driving backbeat kicks in, jangling 12-string bright and defiant -- the chase)] 1 1 5 4 1 (There's a shadow on the road, teeth set in the dark,) 1 1 1 1 (a lyin' tongue on my trail and a lion's heart;) 1 1 5 5 (he'd tear my soul in two on the open ground,) 6m 6m 4 4 1 (drag me low to a place where there's no help around.) 1 5 5 4 5 (O Lord my God, it's in You that I hide --) 5 1 1 1 (save me from all of 'em, deliver me tonight.) [Verse 2 (Hammond swirl rises, band leans in -- the clean-hands oath, one hand raised)] 5 5 6m 6m 4 (If there's blood on these hands, if the charge is true,) 4 1 1 5 5 (if I paid back a friend with the worst I could do,) 4 4 4 4 1 (if I robbed the very man who was at peace with me --) 1 1 1 1 (then let the hunter take me; I'll make no plea.) 5 2m 2m 4 4 (Let him tread my life to dust, lay my honor in the ground.) 5 5 1 1 1 (But You try the heart, Lord -- You know what You found.) [Pre-Chorus (build -- Hammond climbing, snare pushing toward the lift)] 5 6m 6m 4 5 (So arise, O Lord, in Your anger -- lift Yourself high,) 1 1 5 5 (to the judgment You commanded; let the liars' rage die;) 6m 6m 4 4 1 (let the false word fall, and their arrow miss the mark --) 1 1 ('cause my defense is--) [Chorus (the shouted downbeat, then the whole room in -- big and holdable)] 1 5 5 (God! You're my refuge and my shield,) 6m 6m 4 (the righteous Judge who will not yield;) 4 1 1 1 (my defense is God, my defense is God --) 5 4 (He saves the upright heart.) 4 5 5 1 (So try me, Lord -- arise and judge my cause;) 1 5 5 6m (I won't raise my hand, I lay my weapon down.) 6m 4 5 1 (Though the lions come circlin' and the arrows fly,) 1 5 5 6m (I got nowhere else -- I run to You.) [Verse 3 (Telecaster and 12-string trading, gritty then ringing -- the Judge who arms Himself)] 6m 4 5 1 (God judges right, and His anger burns each day) 1 1 1 5 (at the man of blood who will not turn away;) 5 6m 6m 4 4 (if he won't turn back, the Lord will whet the sword,) 1 1 5 5 6m (bend the bow, make it ready, speak the final word --) 6m 4 4 1 1 (He has aimed His arrows true at the ones who hunt the just;) 5 5 6m 6m 4 (so I keep my two hands empty -- I put it in His trust.) [Chorus (everybody in now -- the whole room singing it)] 4 2m 2m (God! You're my refuge and my shield,) 5 5 5 (the righteous Judge who will not yield;) 5 1 5 5 (my defense is God, my defense is God --) 6m 6m (He saves the upright heart.) 4 4 5 1 (So try me, Lord -- arise and judge my cause;) 1 5 5 6m (I won't raise my hand, I lay my weapon down.) 6m 4 5 5 (Though the lions come circlin' and the arrows fly,) 5 4 5 5 (I got nowhere else -- I run to You.) [Bridge (half-time, organ churning, handclaps building -- the boomerang, kept in God's hand)] 5 5 5 5 1 (He was heavy with a lie, and he labored to deceive,) 5 1 5 1 (conceived his little mischief, brought forth what none believe;) 5 5 5 1 1 (he dug himself a pit in the dark, dug it deep,) 4 1 4 1 4 (covered it over, laid low, and waited for me to fall --) 1 4 1 1 5 (but the ground caved in on the one who was diggin',) 5 6m 6m 4 4 (and he went down in his own ditch, sling and sword and all.) 1 1 1 5 (All the mischief that he made comes rollin' back home,) 4 1 1 1 (right down on the crown of his own head.) 1 1 1 1 ((He fell in) -- in the trap that he laid,) 5 5 6m 6m ((He fell in) -- and the Lord was my shade;) 4 4 1 1 5 (I never raised a hand, no -- the Lord, He raised His instead.) [Final Chorus (everything in, defiant and glad -- turning fear into worship)] 5 4 5 (God! You were my refuge and my shield,) 5 1 1 (the righteous Judge who would not yield;) 1 5 5 6m (my defense was God, my defense was God --) 6m 4 (He saved the upright heart.) 4 1 1 5 5 (So I'll praise the Lord for the right that He has done,) 4 4 4 4 (sing to the name of the High and Holy One;) 1 1 1 1 1 (I was hunted and hidin' -- now I'm liftin' up my hands,) 5 2m 2m (singin' praise, singin' praise to You.) [Outro (12-string ringing out over a warm Hammond swell -- communal, hands raised)] 4 4 5 5 (Sing praise to the name of the Most High --) 1 1 1 5 6m ((I run to You) -- sing praise to the Most High;) 6m 4 5 (He was my refuge when the lions came,) 1 1 5 (so I'll sing to the Most High.) 5 6m 6m (Oh -- I run to You...) 4 4 1 1 1 ((I run to You) -- sing praise to the Most High.)