Chords for Soldier

_ _ _ _ [E] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [A] _ _
In the station in the city, a British soldier stood,
Talking to the people there, [A] if the people would.
Some just stared in hatred, [E] and others turned in pain,
And the lonely British soldier wished [A] he was back home again.
[D] Come join the British Army, said [A] the posters in his town,
[E] See the world and have your fun, [A] come serve before the crown.
[D] The jobs were hard to come by, [A] and he could not face the dole,
So he [E] took his country's shilling [D] and enlisted [A] on the road.
There was no fear of fighting, [E] the empire long was lost,
Just ten years in the army, [A] getting paid for being bossed.
Then leave a man [E] experienced, a man who's made the grade,
A medal and a pension, [A] some memories and a trade.
Then came the call to Ireland, [E] as the call had come before,
Another bloody chapter [A] in an endless civil war.
The priests they stood on both [E] sides, the priests they stood behind,
Another fight in Jesus' [A] name, the blind against the blind.
The [D] soldier stood between them, between the whistling stones,
And [E] then the broken bottles, that led to broken bones.
The [D] petrol bombs that burned his hands, the nails that pierced his skin,
And [E] wished that he had stayed at [A] home, surrounded by his [A] kin.
The station filled with people, [E] the soldier soon was bored,
But better in the station, [A] than where the people warred.
The room filled up with mothers, [E] with daughters and with sons,
Who stared with itchy fingers [A] at the soldier and his guns.
A yell of fear, a screech of [E] brakes, a shattering of glass,
The window of the station [A] broke to let the package pass.
The scream came from the mothers, [E] as they ran towards the door,
Dragging children crying from [A] the bomb upon the floor.
The soldier stood and could not move [E] his gun, he could not use,
He knew the bomb [B] had seconds and [A] not minutes on the fuse.
He could not run to pick it up and [E] throw it in the street.
There were far too many people there, too [A] many running feet.
[A] Take cover young soldier, take cover for your lives.
And the [E] Irishmen threw down their young and [A] stood before their wives.
They [D] turned towards the soldier, their eyes alive with fear.
[E] For God's sake save our children or they'll end their [D] short [A] lives here.
The soldier moved towards the bomb, [E] his stomach like a stone.
Why was this his battle, God, [A] why was he alone?
He lay down on the package and he [E] murmured one farewell
To those at home in England, to [A] those he loved so well.
He saw the sights of summer, felt [E] the wind upon his brow.
The young girls in the city parks, [A] how precious were they now.
The soaring of the swallow, the [E] beauty of the swan.
The music of the turning earth, so soon would it be gone.
A muffled soft explosion and the room began to quake.
The soldier blown across the floor, his [A] blood a crimson lake.
They never heard him cry or shout, they [E] never heard him moan.
And they turned their children's faces from the blood and from the bone.
[D] The crowd had soon gathered [A] and the ambulances came
[E] To carry off the body of a pawn lost to the [A] game.
And the [D] crowd they clapped and jeered and they [A] sang their rebel songs.
[E] What soldier lest to interfere where he did not belong.
And will the children [D] groan _
[A] on their knees.
The story [Em] of the soldier who fought their liberty.
Who [D] used his youthful body [A] as the means towards the end.
[E] Who gave his life to those who called [D] him murder and not [A] friend. _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _