Intro: Em Am
verse 1
Am
The watchers on the hillside stand in silence
G
As the dawn appears
Am
Then they gather to their horses in an instant
G
As a sun shaft sears
F
Through the morning mist which hangs low in the valleys
Em
Like a serpent's tail
F
Both poisonous to enemies and heroes
Am
In the soldiers' tale
verse 2
A lonely tower stands empty as a refuge
G
By the sullen lake
Am
As the straggle of survivors in their weakness
G
Make a grave mistake
F
For the crossroad sign which points towards the coast
Em
Is yet another nail
F
In the cross of the Pretender and his comrades
Am
In the soldiers' tale
verse 3
F C
The dream we once knew is now over
G
The battle is lost
Em
The retreat has begun
F C
Let us make our escape in the dead of the night
Ab
While the lone widows wail
A
In the soldiers' tale
verse 4
Am
The French boat at the ready, stands at anchor
G
On the swollen tide
Am
His loyal followers raise a faint cheer
G
As he draws aside
F
The Pretender's cause is lost, a sad farewell
Em
As the boat sets sail
F
And the rain hurls down on the challenge of the gauntlet
Am F
In the soldiers' tale
Verse 5
Am
The soldiers' song is never sung
A7
The soldiers' battle never won
Am7
The soldiers' lives are bought an sold
Am
The soldiers' bayonets are cold
A7
The soldiers' guns are never fired
Am7
The soldiers' eyes are never tired
Dm
The soldiers' hearts are filled with hate
A Am
A soldier's cause must ever wait