[Verso]

                        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 a human spirit ringin'
                          Db 
It is the bringin' of the line
           Ab              C
It is the bearin' of the rhyme
              Bbm              Fm
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'

[Refrão]

                Fm 
And I could cry power (power)
Ab 
Power (power)
Db 
Power (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 (power)
Db
Curtis cried power
Ab           C 
Patti cried power
Bbm         Fm 
Nina cried power

[Verso 2]

                            Fm 
It's not the war but what's behind it
                    Eb
Oh, the fear of how men is near 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

[Refrão]

                Fm
And I could cry power
Ab 
Power (power)
Db
Power (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 (power)
Db
Billie cried power
Ab           C
Joni cried power
Bbm         Fm 
Nina cried power

[Ponte]

                Fm
And I could cry power
Fm               
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Fm                                        Bbm            C 
Straight into the face that tells you to rattle on your chains
       Bbm         Fm 
If you love bein' free

[Refrão]

                     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

Fm           
James cried power
Db 
Millie cried power
Db 
Patti cried power
Db              
Billie, power, Dylan, power
C 
Woody, power
Bbm         Fm
Nina cried power