Teen for God
Words and music by Dar Williams
From My Better Self

Transcription by:  Jodie Deignan
Date:  September 22, 2005
 
Capo I 
(G)The sun burns down living God’s bright stamp
(C)At Peace Branch Horse and Bible camp,
(Am)Where we’re splashing in the water, joined in song,
(D)Swimming with the spirit the whole day long.

I’m a teen for (G)God, and God is (C2)wat(D)ching.
I’m a teen for (G)God, and God is (C2)wat(D)ching.
I’m a teen for (G)God.

(G)The girls have looks and the girls have rules.
(C)They came here from their Bible school.
(Am)They can make you pay attention
To the way you dress and eat,
(D)Make you trip over your own two feet.
(G)They kneel down on their towels at night,
(C)Their nightgowns glow with a holy light,
(Am)And we pray for the sinners and their drunken car wrecks,
(D)And I vow that I’ll never get high and have sex

I’m a teen for (G)God, and God is (C2)wat(D)ching.
I’m a teen for (G)God, and God is (C2)wat(D)ching.
I’m a teen for (G)God.

(Bm)Cause God made every leaf on every (Em)tree,
Each (Bm)grain of sand, God has a plan
(Em)for (C)what (Am/B)we’re (Am7)meant to (Am)be,
(D)I’ve got to wait for God.

(G)Dear Lord I plan each day
(C)the things I will not do or say,
(Am)But I’m driven by a passion is it only there to tame?
(D)It fills my heart and it calls my name, and
(G)This world that you made for us,
(C)I know I know it’s dangerous,
(Am)So I ride a lot of horses, I never even swear,
(D)It’s sort of like praying I’m just not there.

Oh (G)God.  God is (C2)wat(D)ching.
Oh (G)God.  God is (C2)wat(D)ching.

(Bm)But God made love, God made the river (Em)run,
And (Bm)cowboy boots and bathing suits
and the (Em)boys’ (c)skin (Am/B)dries (Am7)in (Am)the (D)sun.
Help me (G)God.

(G)Help me know four years from now,
(C)I won’t believe in you anyhow,
(Am)And I’ll mope around a campus and I’ll feel betrayed,
(D)All those guilty summers I strayed, but
(G)Then I’ll laugh that I fell for the lure
(C)Of the pain of desire to feel so pure,
(Am)And I’ll bear all of the burdens of my little daily crimes,
(D)And wish I had a God for such cynical times
Far from today,

(G)But for know I’m your sacred vessel, Rip me open,
I’ll spread your word like a (C2)milkweed pod,
(G)Yeah I’m your radio station, holy transmission,
Even more like a (C2)lightening rod,
(G)A lightening rod, a teen for God.

I’m a teen for (G)God, and God is (C2)wat(D)ching.
I’m a teen for (G)God, and God is (C2)wat(D)ching.
I’m a teen for (G)God.(D) (G)


This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song.
You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.
Words and music copyright © 2005 Burning Field Music (administered by Bug Music).
Last updated September 22, 2005
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