Only A Pawn In Their Game Words and music by Bob Dylan Transcription by Kelvin Sherlock Keep in mind that the chords for the beginning few lines are slightly different with each verse. Notes in parentheses () are passing notes *** Capo 2nd Fret *** G C (B A) G C (B A) G A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Ever's blood C (B A) D A finger fired the trigger to his name (C B) G C (B A) G C (B A) G A handle hid out in the dark a hand set the spark C (B A) G Two eyes took the aim Behind a man's brain But he can't be blamed (B C) D (C B) G He's only a pawn in their game Subsequent verses have an intro more like this: G Bm Am C (B) G The south politician preaches to the poor white man "You got more than the blacks, don't complain" "You're better than them ,you been born with white skin", they explain And the negro's name is used it is plain As he rises to fame And the poor white remains on the caboose of the train But it ain't him to blame He's only a pawn in their game The deputy sheriff the soldiers, the governors get paid And the marshalls and cops get the same But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool He's taught in his school From the start by the rule That the laws are with him To protect his white skin To keep up his hate So he never thinks straight 'bout the shape that he's in But it ain't him to blame He's only a pawn in their game From the poverty shacks, he loks from the cracks to the tracks And the hoof beats pound in his brain And he's taught how to walk in a pack, shoot in the back With his fist in a clinch To hang and to lynch To hide 'neath a hood To kill with no pain Like a dog on a chain He ain't got no name But it ain't him to blame He's only a pawn in their game The day Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught They lowered him down as a king But when the shadowy sun sets on the one that fired the gun You'll see by his grave On the stone that remains Carved next to his name His epitaph plain: Only a pawn in their game