Tom: D
Introdução: Dm Em F G Dm Am F
C Am
My name is Dodge, but then you know that
F C G
It's written on the chart there, at the foot end of the of the bed
C Am
They think I'm blind, that I can't read it
F C G
But I've read it, every word and every word it says is death
Am F C
So confession. Is that the reason that you came?
Am F G
Get it off my chest before I check out of the game
Am F C
Since you mention it, well, there's thirteen things I'll name
Dm F G Am F
Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters
C Am
August '49, North Montana
F C G
The hottest day on record, the forest tinder dry
C Am
Lightning strikes in the mountains
F C G
I was crew chief at the jump base, I prepared the boys to fly
Am F C
Picked the drop zone, C47 comes in low
Am F G
Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you, "Go"
Am F C
See the circle of the fire down below
Dm F G Am F
Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters
C Am
Gauged the fire, I'd seen bigger
F C G
So I ordered them to side hill, we'd fight it from below
C Am
We'd have our backs to the river
F C G
We'd have it licked by morning, even if we took it slow
Am F C
But the fire crowned, jumped the valley just ahead
Am F G
There was no way down, headed for the ridge instead
Am F C
Too big to fight it, we'd have to fight that slope instead
Dm F G Am F
Flames one step behind, above the cold Missouri waters
C Am
Sky had turned red, smoke was boiling
F C G
Two hundred yards to safety, death was fifty yards behind
C Am
I don't know why, I just thought it
F C G
I struck a match to waist high grass, running out of time
Am F C
Tried to tell them, "Step into this fire I've set."
Am F G
"We can't make it, this is the only chance you'll get"
Am F C
But they cursed me, ran for the rocks above instead
Dm F G Am
I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters
Dm Em F G
Aah, aah, aah, aah
G Dm Am F
Aah, aah, aah, aah
C Am
Then when I rose like the phoenix
F C G
In that world reduced to ashes, there were none, but two survived
C Am
I stayed that night and one day after
F C G
Carried bodies to the river, wondering how I stayed alive
Am F C
Thirteen stations of the cross to mark their fall
Am F G
I've had my say, I'll confess to nothing more
Am F C
I'll join them now, those that left me long before
Dm F G Am
Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters
Dm Am F
Ooh, ooh, ooh