The Retreat

     F                C/E      
They laid beneath the pine trees 
             Bb/D            F
with their caps over their eyes

          Bb                  F   
They were drunk with home and mama
         G                C
 as they brushed away the flies

      F                   C/E  
In an instant before the sunrise 
              Bb                F
they had gunned the rebels down

         Bb                 F  
As their flags were torn at half 
              C            F
mast in the ruins of the town

[Verse 2]
           F                  C/E 
There were white sails on the 
          Bb/D            F
water for the crippled on the beach

            Bb          F         
There was a lack of ammunition so 
    G         C
the cause was incomplete

         F             C/E        
When the bugle blew at breakfast 
         Bb                    F
and they knew their ships were in

Bb             F            
Signs of grand assurance were 
C                  F
carried on the wind

[Chorus]
        F    C/E         Dm   
Take it home,    take it low, 
F/C          Bb  F
take responsibilities

Gm                         C  Bb  C
Came the message from the front

Continúa después del anuncio
        F        C/E        
For the captains,    captains 
  Dm      F/C Bb      A7
quarters    must retreat

         Gm7               C      
Pack the compass, pack the tents, 
         Bb   F
take the bunks

[Verse 3]
          F                   C/E 
They just chalked it down in 
            Bb           F/C
history but they kept their uniforms

               Bb           
They put their medals on the 
 F                   G         
sideboards and they went back to 
         C
their farms

           F             C/E      
For it was just a mere reminder 
        Bb               F
that they stood beside the best

     Bb                F          
That God had saved the chosen few 
        C                  F
and the devil took the rest

[Chorus]
        F    C/E         Dm   
Take it home,    take it low, 
F/C          Bb  F
take responsibilities

Gm                             C  
Came the message from the front
Bb C


        F        C/E        
For the captains,    captains 
  Dm      F/C Bb      A7
quarters    must retreat

         Gm7               C      
Pack the compass, pack the tents, 
         Bb   F
take the bunks

[Verse 4]
       F                C/E       
On the planes above the rock face 
          Bb/D              F
where the sculptured eagles swoop

          Bb                F     
There's a haunted yell for action 
          G               C
among the spectres of his troops

       F             C/E          
It was silent on the coastline as 
    Bb           F
the crazy angels danced

         Bb                 
With the sound of retreating 
  F                C            F
footfall from his military camp

[Chorus]
        F    C/E         Dm   
Take it home,    take it low, 
F/C          Bb  F
take responsibilities

Gm                             C  
Came the message from the front
Bb  C


        F        C/E        
For the captains,    captains 
  Dm      F/C Bb      A7
quarters    must retreat

         Gm7               C      
Pack the compass, pack the tents, 
         Bb   F
take the bunks