G D
The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons
G C D
And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns
G C G
But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives
C Am C D Dsus4 D
'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives
verse 1
G D
You barely just remember the tears your mother shed
G C D
As she sat and read the paper through the lists and lists of dead
G C G
And the gold frame held the photograph your mother kissed each night
C Am C D Dsus4 D
And the door frame held the shocked and silent stranger from the fight
verse 2
G D
And twenty-one years later you had children of your own
G C D
The trumpet sounded once again and the soldier boys were gone
G C G
And you made their guns and drove their trucks and you tended to their wounds
C Am C D Dsus4 D
At night you kissed their photographs and prayed for safe returns
G D
The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons
G C D
And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns
G C G
But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives
C Am C D Dsus4 D
'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives
verse 3
G D
And when it was all over you had to learn again
G C D
To be just wives and mothers though you'd done the work of men
G C G
So you worked to help the needy and you never trod on toes
C Am C D Dsus4 D
And the photo on the mantelpiece struck a happy family pose
verse 4
G D
But your daughters grew to women and your little boys to men
G C D
And you wished that you were dreaming when the call-up came again
G C G
But you proudly smiled and held your tears as they proudly waved good bye
C Am C D Dsus4 D
But the photos on the mantelpieces it always made you cry
G D
The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons
G C D
And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns
G C G
But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives
C Am C D Dsus4 D
'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives
Verse 5
G D
And now your growing older and in time the photos fade
G C D
In widowhood you sit back and reflect on the parade
G C G
And the passing of your memories as your daughters change their lives
C Am C D Dsus4 D
Seeing more to their existences than just mothers, daughters, wives
G D
The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons
G C D
And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns
G C G
But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives
C Am C D Dsus4 D
'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives
G C G
And you never thought to question you just went on with your lives
C Am C D Dsus4 D
'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives