[Verse 1]
 
I got some blood under my nails
                              Em D G Cadd9
I got some mud on my face
   Em             D
My voice is shot, I'm going grey
      G           Cadd9       Em D G Cadd9
These muscles all ache
D                           G                  Cadd9
  Don't cry for me, I'm the life of the party
 
I'm smiling most of the time
         D           G                Cadd9         G
I may be gritting my teeth, can't get back where we started
Em                          D
  These days I'm doing just fine
 
[Chorus]
    G          Em         Cadd9   G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
      Em       Cadd9         G
Won't pound my chest or criticize
  Em      Cadd9                  G
I must confess, I've lived, I've died
G              Em         Cadd9   G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
    Em         Cadd9              G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
 
[Instrumental part]
Em D G Cadd9 (2x)
e|10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-7-7-7-7-7-------------------------7-7--------------|
B|----------------------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--8-8-10-----10-8---------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
[Verse 2]
       Em      D                  G        Cadd9    Em D G Cadd9
I knew every buried body paid for each headstone
           Em              D                G      Cadd9   Em D G Cadd9
I may have led the prayers in public, but I cried alone
D                                G                    Cadd9
  Found God through sin but this ain't my confession
 
I'll wait on judgement day
     D       G           Cadd9        G
It's lose or win, got no need for protection
Em                        D
  Stand up or out of my way
 
[Chorus]
   G          Em         Cadd9   G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
      Em       Cadd9         G
Won't pound my chest or criticize
  Em      Cadd9                  G
I must confess, I've lived, I've died
G              Em         Cadd9   G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
    Em         Cadd9              G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
 
[Instrumental part]
G Cadd9 G Em Cadd9 G (2x)
e|10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-7-7-7-7-7-------------------------7-7--------------|
B|----------------------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--8-8-10-----10-8---------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|  (2x)
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
[Bridge]
           Am                         Em
The howling doomsday dogs are snapping at your feet
               Am                         D
'Round here the sky is cracked, but won't admit defeat
               Cadd9                        G/B
Down here there they got your back and stood at your side
             Em                             D
This treasure chest of rags still keeps this dream alive
 
[Chorus]
   G          Em         Cadd9   G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
      Em       Cadd9         -
Won't pound my chest or criticize
  Em      Cadd9                  G
I must confess, I've lived, I've died
G              Em         Cadd9   G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
    Em         Cadd9              G
God bless this mess, this mess is mine
 
[Outro]
Em D G Cadd9 (4x)
e|10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-7-7-7-7-7-------------------------7-7--------------|
B|----------------------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--8-8-10-----10-8---------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-7-7-7-7-7-----------------------7-8----------------|
B|----------------------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--8-10--------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|