Key: G
Introduction: G C G D
G C G
Not another foot was stirring on the floor of the house
D C G
except for my 'pa who'd been up for a while
G C G
Seems he's headin' on after the bad word that came,
D C G
of his brothers who marched but were left down all slain
D
Please call out the cavalry
C G
Send them along
D
For we need our daddy,
C G
and so does this farm
C
Mama stays awake to pray,
G
in a lonely straw bed
D
and we rise before the sun
C G
with the work that he left
G C G
He took what mama made him to feed him on his way
D C G
he kissed all my brothers, my sisters, and me
G C G
he held my poor mama, looked down and said, "Son,
D C G
I'll be home soon, now hand me my coat and my gun."
D
Please call out the cavalry
C G
Send them along
D
For we need our daddy
C G
and so does this farm
C
Mama stays awake to pray
G
in a lonely straw bed
D
and we rise before the sun
C G
with the work that he left
G C G
It's been some days without him, but we've toiled away
D C G
hang onto the cattle and the crops that we've laid
G C G
mama sits by the window and stares until dark
D C G
and rocks by the fire and cries out her heart
D
Please call out the cavalry
C G
Send my man home
D
For we need our daddy
C G
and so does this farm
C G
mama stays awake to pray, in a lonely straw bed
D C G
and we rise before the sun, for the work that you left
G C G
been about a year since my daddy had gone
D C G
when I saw an old carriage, and a coat I'd once known
G C G
it was draped o'er a man who once stood proud and tall
D C G
now broken and battered and missing an arm
G C G
he cried when he saw us, and the words they came slow
D C G
of the sunrise he found and the hell that he'd known
G C G
he asked for forgiveness for failing us all
D C G
his duty cut short, in the battle he lost
D C G
We said, "don't mind that daddy, for now you are home,
D C G
now mama cries for joy, and she won't sleep alone.
C G
You've sons and you've daughters, now please use our arms."
D C G
Now rise before the sun, for the work to be done.