Key: G
Introduction: G C G C G
C
Well, friends, hereby hangs a tale
G
The year was nineteen thirty-one
C
A good job digging for the king
G
While there's so many on the bum
Em D
I'd done my time across in France
C
Fought at Moreaux and at Vimy
G C
Done my service for my country
D G
Thought I'd put the guns behind me
C
I should have known it from the start
G
Peace may be signed between two nations
C
But for protection of your rights
G
My friends, it's always battle stations
Em D
And so it was the union boys
C
Set up shop there in the coalfields
G C
Said that they would be our voice
D G
Said that they would be our shield
C G C G
C
They said just a little march
G
Across the town and past the station
C
Some fine strong speakers and a band
G
A fairly peaceful congregation
Em D
Let them know that we were strong
C
Show them we could be united
G C
Show them we had found our voice
D G
And that we would not be frightened
C
I should have known it from the start
G
Workers marching makes them nervous
C
I saw no menace in our group
G
Peaceful of heart and stout of purpose
Em D
The local peelers were forewarned
C
It's sure as hell they were forearmed
G C
How could we cause them any trouble?
D G
How could they be so alarmed?
C G C G
C
Armed with truncheons and with guns
G
They took their line across the road
C
Their faces cast in stone
G
I heard the call to aim and load
Em D
Saw the deadly muzzle flash
C G
Saw the people drop around me
C
Took a bullet to the leg
D G
My friends, and that is how they found me
C
I should have known it from the start
G
Should have seen the trouble coming
C
Seen the ugly twist of fate
G
Turned my tail and started running
Em D
Known when push has come to shove
C
And it's a heavy hand that feeds you
G C
That the job that was your life
D G F
Becomes the job that slowly beats you
C G F
No use, no use, for the ranting of the government men
C G F
No use, for their fine print and their fountain pen
C G
No use, no use in me denying
F C
This small rebellion's over, but I'm leaving here unbowed
C G C G
C
And when the dust had finally cleared
G
When all dissent had been put down
C
I packed my life in two worn bags
G
Caught the train and left the town
Em D
In this case justice sure was blind
C
At least blind to human suffering
G C
They said they'd put us in our place
D G
And I guess they weren't bluffing
C
I should have known it from the start
G
It's not the truth that really matters
C
The real world tramples on such things
G
Leaves your mental state in tatters
Em D
Makes the blowing prairie dust
C
Seem like it is stationary
G C
Makes the proudest person humble
D G
And the strongest person wary
G C
Makes the proudest person humble
D G C D G
And the strongest person wary