Soldiers Song

    Em                             Bm
The smoke was slowly rising as the light began to fade,
           Am                             C
There were fires on the skyline from some distant border raid.
          G                          D                Am
And I was riding out at seventeen to join my first brigade
     Em
Many years ago.

      Am             Em                  Am            Em
And I chanced upon a farmhouse where the woman took me in,
    C                G                 Am               Em
She gave me food and wine; she gave me shelter from the wind.
    G                                D             Am
She delayed me from my regiment, and service of my king
     Em
Many years ago.

[Chorus]
She said:
G                  D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
      Em                   Am           C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
            G
She took me over
       D
In the fading fire-glow,
        Am                              Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.

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[Verse 2]
    Em                             Bm
And when I rose next morning I was gone before she stirred,
  Am                              C
I tore myself away from there and left without a word.
    G                                 D            Am
The sound of distant infantry was the only thing I heard
        Em
On that morning.

     Am           Em                 Am              Em
And in that day I aged ten years and died a thousand deaths,
  C                   G                Am             C
I learned the feel of frozen steel and fear within my breast.
        G                              D            Am
But the lesson I'll remember till they lay me to my rest
         Em
Keeps returning.

[Chorus]
G                  D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
      Em                   Am           C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
            G
She took me over
       D
In the fading fire-glow,
        Am                              Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.

[Verse 3]
    Em                                   Bm
And when the dice of war were thrown and victory was won,
   Am                             C
My drunken young compatriots went out to have their fun.
          G                                D            Am
And there was no single house they did not burn or over-run,
        Em
On that evening.

     Am               Em             Am              Em
So I rode out to that place again as hard as I could ride,
      C                G               Am             Em
But I found her by the trail along the lonely mountainside.
       G                                        D                Am
In the hands of those brave friends of mine she suffered and she died,
     Em
Many years ago.

[Other]
G                  D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
      Em                   Am           C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
            G
She took me over
       D
In the fading fire-glow,
        Am                              Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.