Soldier

 {t:Soldier }
{artist: Harvey Andrews}
{key: G}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmzd_Xa_2Cc?t=112 Capo 2
{c: Thanks to Greg O’Connell } 
[G]   [D]   [D]  [G]  
[G] In a station in the city a [D] British soldier stood
[D] Talking to the people there [G] if the people would
[G] Some just stared in hatred, and [D] others turned in pain
[D] And the lonely British soldier wished he [G] was back home again
 
Come [C] join the British Army! said the [G] posters in his town
[D] See the world and have your fun come [G] serve before the Crown
The [C] jobs were hard to come by and he [G] could not face the dole
So he [D] took his country's shilling and en-[C] listed on the [G] roll
 
[G] For there was no fear of fighting, the [D] Empire long was lost
[D] Just ten years in the army getting [G] paid for being bossed
[G] Then leave a man experienced a [D] man who's made the grade
[D] A medal and a pension some [G] mem'ries and a trade
 
[G] Then came the call to Ireland as the [D] call had come before
[D] Another bloody chapter in an [G] endless civil war
[G] The priests they stood on both sides the [D] priests they stood behind
[D] Another fight in Jesus name the [G] blind against the blind
 
[C] The soldier stood between them [G] between the whistling stones
And [D] then the broken bottles that [G] led to broken bones
The [C] petrol bombs that burnt his hands the [G] nails that pierced his skin
And [D] wished that he had stayed at home su-[G] rrounded by his kin
 
The station filled with people the [D] soldier soon was bored
But better in the station than [G] where the people warred
The room filled up with mothers with [D] daughters and with sons
Who stared with itchy fingers at the [G] soldier and his gun
 
A yell of fear a screech of brakes the [D] shattering of glass
The window of the station broke to [G] let the package pass
A scream came from the mothers as they [D] ran towards the door
Dragging children crying from the [G] bomb upon the floor
 
The soldier stood and could not move his [D] gun he could not use
He knew the bomb had seconds and not [G] minutes on the fuse
He could not run to pick it up and [D] throw it in the street
There were far too many people there too [G] many running feet
 
Take [C] cover! yelled the [Am] soldier, Take [G] cover for your lives 
And the [D] Irishmen threw [Bm] down their young and [G] stood before their wives
They [C] turned towards the soldier their [G] eyes alive with fear
For [C] God's sake save our [Bm] children or they'll [C] end their short lives [G] here
 
The soldier moved towards the bomb his [D] stomach like a stone
Why was this his battle God [G] why was he alone
He lay down on the package and he [D] murmured one farewell
To those at home in England to [G] those he loved so well
 
He saw the sights of summer felt the [D] wind upon his brow
The [Bm] young girls in the [D] city parks how [G] precious were they now
The soaring of the swallow the [F#m] beauty of the [D] swan
The music of the turning world so [G] soon would it be gone
 
A muffled soft explosion and the [D] room began to quake
The soldier blown across the floor his [G] blood a crimson lake
They never heard him cry or shout they [D] never heard him moan
And they turned their children's faces from the [G] blood and from the bones
 
The [C] crowd outside soon gathered and the [G] ambulances came
To [C] carry off the [D] body of a [G] pawn lost to the [F] game
And the [C] crowd they clapped and cheered and they [G] sang their rebel songs
One [C] soldier less to [D] interfere where [G] he did not belong
 
And [C] will the children growing up learn [G] at their mothers' knees
The [Em] story of the [F] soldier who [G] bought their liberty
Who [C] used his youthful body as a [G] means towards an end
Who [D] gave his life to those who called him [G] murderer not friend