Verse 1
This is the story of someone who lived not long ago.
He was a real mean man. His friends, they called him “Joe.”
Spent most of his life doing wrong, it was more than often said.
When Joe wasn't fighting, he was stoned out of his head.
Then one night in a bar fight he was wounded in the chest.
It looked for Joe the end had come, 'twas feared he'd soon be dead.
He said, “If there's a God, then please give my life back to me.”
So the good Lord pulled him through and sent him out to be …

Refrain 1
A preacher man, yeah, yeah, a preacher man.
A preacher man, yeah, yeah, do what you can.

Verse 2
He went down to Chicago town to see what he could find.
Violence reigned on the streets, young kids had turned to crime.
He said to himself, “This place is hell, no one seems to care.”
For those who tried to fight it, soon gave way to their despair.
So he got down upon his knees, said to the Lord in prayer,
“I want out of this place.” But the Lord said, “You stay there.”
He told Joe they needed someone. “Yes, there's a job to do
To try to help those poor folks out, the way that I helped you.

Refrain 2
Preacher man, yeah, yeah, preacher man.
Oh, preacher man, yeah, yeah, do what you can.”

Verse 3
So he knocked on his first door; they slammed it in his face.
“We don't need no preacher here; we've fallen far from grace.”
He tried again on all the doors; it happened just the same.
He was about to quit, but thought he'd try once again.
A young girl opened up the door, invited Joe inside.
She was gonna end it all; she'd given up on life.
Joe threw his arms around her; the girl just cried and cried.
Then got down on her knees and thanked the Lord he'd come in time.

Refrain 3
A preacher man, yeah, yeah, a preacher man.
Oh, preacher man, yeah, yeah, do what you can.

Verse 4
Then one day as Joe headed out to spread his message 'round,
A shot rang out behind him. He fell down to the ground.
There were those who couldn't stand his preachin' any more.
Those narrow minded people tried to even up the score.
As he laid a dyin', he said one final prayer,
Forgiving all, even those who gunned him down right there.
And just before he went, the girl who'd opened up her door
Came and held Joe in her arms and said, “I'll now take up the torch.”

Refrain 4
A preacher man, yeah, yeah, a preacher man.
You've done so much good; you've did what you could.

Verse 5
After helping many people, Joe went to his reward.
The good Lord was awaitin' there to show him through the door.
But way down back on Earth below, his shell they laid to rest,
With sorrow-stricken hearts now, they'd lost one of their best.
But many caught the vision that old Joe shared with them all,
And one by one they took a stand, the challenge of his call.
And following his footsteps they'd vowed they'd not forget
The love that ol' Joe showed them, especially in his death.

Refrain 5
Preacher man, preacher man, yeah, now preacher man.
Come on now, preacher man.
Preacher man, preacher man, yeah, now preacher man.
Yeah, do what you can.
Preacher man, preacher man.

"PREACHER MAN" (with chords)

Intro: (Em)

Verse 1
(Em)This is the story of someone who (C)lived not (D)long (Em)ago.
He (C)was a real mean (D)man. His (Em)friends, they called him “Joe.”
Spent most of his life doing wrong, it was (C)more than (D)often (Em)said.
(C)When Joe wasn't (D)fighting, he was (Em)stoned out of his head.
Then (G)one night in a bar fight he was (D)wounded in the chest.
It (Am)looked for Joe the end had come, 'twas (G)feared he'd soon be (D)dead.
He (G)said, “If there's a God, then please give (D)my life back to me.”
(Am)So the good Lord pulled him through and (G)sent him out to (D)be …

Refrain 1
A (Em)preacher man,(D) yeah, yeah, a preacher (G)man.
A preacher (Em)man, yeah, (D)yeah, do what you (Em)can.

Verse 2
(Em)He went down to Chicago town to (C)see what (D)he could (Em)find.
(C)Violence reigned (D)on the streets, young (Em)kids had turned to crime.
He said to himself, “This place is hell, (C)no one (D)seems to (Em)care.”
For (C)those who tried to (D)fight it, soon gave (Em)way to their despair.
So (G)he got down upon his knees, said (D)to the Lord in prayer,
(Am) “I want out of this place.” But the (C)Lord said, “You stay (D)there.”
He (G)told Joe they needed someone. “Yes, (D)there's a job to do
To (Am)try to help those poor folks out, the (G)way that I helped (D)you.

Refrain 2
(Em)Preacher man,(D) yeah, yeah, preacher (G)man.
Oh, preacher (Em)man, yeah, (D)yeah, do what you (Em)can.”

Verse 3
(F#m)So he knocked on his first door; they (D)slammed it (E)in his (F#m)face.
(D)“We don't need no (E)preacher here; we've (F#m)fallen far from grace.”
He tried again on all the doors; it (D)happened (E)just the (F#m)same.
He (D)was about to (E)quit, but thought (F#m)he'd try once again.
A (A)young girl opened up the door, (E)invited Joe inside.
(Bm)She was gonna end it all; she'd (A)given up on (E)life.
Joe (A)threw his arms around her; the (E)girl just cried and cried.
Then (Bm)got down on her knees and thanked the (A)Lord he'd come in (E)time.

Refrain 3
A preacher (F#m) man, (E)yeah, yeah, a preacher (A)man.
Oh, preacher (F#m)man, yeah, (Em)yeah, do what you (F#m)can.

Verse 4
(F#m)Then one day as Joe headed out to (D)spread his (E)message (F#m)'round,
A (D)shot rang out (E)behind him. He (F#m)fell down to the ground.
There were those who couldn't stand his (D)preachin' (E)any (F#m)more.
Those (D)narrow minded (E)people tried to (F#m)even up the score.
(A)As he laid a dyin', he (E)said one final prayer,
(Bm)Forgiving all, even those who (A)gunned him down right (E)there.
And (A)just before he went, the girl who'd (E)opened up her door
(Bm)Came and held Joe in her arms and said, “I'll (A)now take up the (E)torch.”

Refrain 4
A (F#m)preacher man, yeah, (E)yeah, a preacher (A)man.
You've done so much (F#m)good; (E)you've did what you (F#m)could.

Verse 5
After(F#m) helping many people, (D)Joe went to (E)his (F#m)reward.
The (D)good Lord was (E)awaitin' there to (F#m)show him through the door.
But way down back on Earth below, his (D)shell they (E)laid to (F#m)rest,
With (D)sorrow-stricken (E)hearts now, they'd (F#m)lost one of their best.
But (A)many caught the vision that old (E)Joe shared with them all,
And (Bm)one by one they took a stand, the (A)challenge of his (E)call.
And (A)following his footsteps (E)they'd vowed they'd not forget
The (Bm)love that ol' Joe showed them, (A)especially in his (E)death.

Refrain 5
(G#m)Preacher man,(F#) preacher (B)man, yeah, now preacher (G#m)man.
Come on (F#)now, preacher (G#m)man.
(G#m)Preacher man,(F#) preacher (B)man, yeah, now preacher (G#m)man.
Yeah, do (F#)what you (G#m)can.
(G#m)Preacher man,(F#) preacher (G#m)man.