[Intro] 
Am C  x4
 
 
[Verse 1]
Am C       Am C
So-lemn regret
     Am
transgressions
C       Am  C
fill my head
  Am      C     Am  C
A measure of success
   Am       C     Am
is how well to forget
C       G       Am(hold)
And the past is dead
 
 
Guitar Solo: Beat became faster
Am C Dm F E x2
 
 
[Verse 2]
 Am
Strewn about the battlefield
   C
of life are the remainders
   Dm     F E        Am
of history   When convenient
                  C
we exalt them and pay them
                         Dm
such respect As if we're all
                    F    E
in an equivalent trajectory
    Am          F   E Am
And trash piles high  in
                 G
the rubble we forgot
    Am            F     E
The angels of our nature
     Am               G
just sit and watch it rot
 
 
[Chorus 1]
        F    C  G
Now the past is dead
      F
Let's focus on
  C         G
tomorrow instead
       F      C
Oh the tragic present
G        E/Ab    Am  F C Am Am F C Am
said The past is dead
 
Am F C Am Am (hold)
 
 
[Verse 3]
Am
Who can say what constitutes
    C
the most important sector
   Dm      F E        Am
of society?   and the dominant
                C
portion seek an instant
gratification And are
Dm                    F    E
proud of intellectual poverty
    Am      F E Am
I'd like to be  empathetic
      G         Am    F E
but I can't The jeopardy
       Am               G
is too great to make a stand
 
 
[Chorus 2]
        F    C  G
Now the past is dead
     F
Good deeds won't help
C        G
you get ahead yeah
    F      C
The modern signpost
G        E/Ab    Am  F C Am Am F C Am
read the past is dead
 
 
[Bridge]
   Am           F
My next great decision
C  Am   Am       F   C
is just lying in wait
Am  Am
The action might turn
F      C  Am  Am
out to be the world's
     F   C    Am G--
most grievous mistake
 
 
[Guitar Solo] 
F C G   x4
 
 
[Chorus 3]
         F    C  G
Yeah The past is dead
     F
More veritable words
     C          G
have never been said
       F      C
Oh the tragic present
G        E/Ab    Am  F C Am Am F C Am
said the past is dead
 
Am F C Am Am G Am(hold)