Based on 2014 NYC version,
with a slight chord adjustment in the second half of the first verse
(https://humanistculture.bandcamp.com/track/brighter-than-today-2)
D
Countless winter nights ago,
A
A woman shivered in the cold.
Bm
Cursed the skies, and wondered why
G
The gods invented pain.
D
Aching angry flesh and bone,
A
Bitterly she struck the stone
Bm
Till she saw the sudden spark
G
Of light, and golden flame.
Bm
She showed the others, but they told her
G
She was not fit to control
D
The primal forces that the gods
A
Had cloaked in mystery
Bm
But she would not be satisfied,
G
And though she trembled, she defied them
D
Took her torch and raised it high
A
Set afire history.
[CHORUS]
G Bm
Tomorrow can be brighter than to-day,
Bm
although the night is cold.
D A
The stars may seem so very far a-way...
G
But courage, hope and reason burn,
Bm
In every mind, each lesson learned,
D
Shining light to guide our way
A Bm
Make tomorrow brighter than to-day...
G
Oh................
Bm
Oh................
A D
Oh... Brighter than to-day.
D
Ages long forgotten now,
A
We built the wheel and then the plough.
Dm
Tilled the earth and proved our worth,
G
Against the drought and snow.
D
Soon we had the time to fathom
A
Mountain peaks and tiny atoms,
Bm
Beating hearts electric sparks
G
So much more to know.
[CHORUS]
G Bm
Tomorrow can be brighter than to-day,
Bm
although the night is cold.
D A
The stars may seem so very far a-way...
Bm
But courage, hope and reason grow
G
With every passing season so we’ll
D
Drive the darkness far away
A Bm
Make tomorrow brighter than to-day...
G
Oh................
Bm
Oh................
G
Oh................
Bm
Oh................
A D
Oh... Brighter than to-day.
D
The universe may seem unfair.
A
The laws of nature may not care.
Bm
The storms and quakes, our own mistakes,
G
They nearly doused our flame.
D
But all these trials we’ve endured
A
The lessons learned, diseases cured
Bm
Against our herculean task
G
We’ve risen to proclaim.
[CHORUS]
G Bm
Tomorrow can be brighter than to-day,
Bm
although the night is cold.
D A
The stars may seem so very far a-way...
Bm
But courage, hope and reason bloom
G
Across the world and one day soon, we’ll
D
Rise up to the stars and say:
A
Make tomorrow brighter than today
G
Oh................
Bm
Oh................
G
Oh................
Bm
Oh................
G
Oh................
Bm
Oh................
A D
Oh... Brighter than to-day.
Source: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/raymond_arnold/brighter_than_today_chords_1779972