Safe Behind The Wire Chords
Safe Behind The Wire by John Schumann is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of D. It uses the chords D, A, G, Bm and F#m. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
Intro D A D
D
When the bodies were bagged and the telegrams sent
G D
And the very last chopper had gone
D G D Bm A
And you looked out the window of the 707 on the airfield in Saigon,
D Bm
Some of us thought that the war was over
G D
Some of us couldn’t care less;
G D G A
But you came home and threw a stay-behind party to try to clear up the mess.
G D A D
I don’t know where you are tonight..I’m down here in a firefight…
F#m G A D
But where-ever you are, I hope you’re safe behind the wire.
D Bm G D
We were fighting for freedom in South-East Asia…. That’s how the story ran;
G D Bm A
Windy speeches about a domino falling from China into Vietnam…
D Bm G D
But look back in sickness and anger, Australia didn’t honour her debt;
G D G A
And non-commission Officer Thompson learned that the war wasn’t over yet.
G D A D
Living on your nerves, living on the phone and sleeping in airports far from home….
F#m G A D
Dusted off now and safe behind the wire.
Instrumental: