The Retreat

	  		
verse 1 
     F                C/E                   Bb/D            F 
They laid beneath the pine trees with their caps over their eyes 

          Bb                  F            G                C 
They were drunk with home and mama as they brushed away the flies 

      F                   C/E                Bb                F 
In an instant before the sunrise they had gunned the rebels down 

         Bb                 F                C            F 
As their flags were torn at half mast in the ruins of the town 

verse 2 
           F                  C/E           Bb/D            F 
There were white sails on the water for the crippled on the beach 

            Bb          F             G         C 
There was a lack of ammunition so the cause was incomplete 

         F             C/E                 Bb                    F 
When the bugle blew at breakfast and they knew their ships were in 

Bb             F            C                  F 
Signs of grand assurance were carried on the wind 

        F    C/E         Dm   F/C          Bb  F 
Take it home,    take it low, take responsibilities 

Gm                         C  Bb  C 
Came the message from the front 

        F        C/E          Dm      F/C Bb     C/A 
For the captains,    captains quarters    must retreat 

         Gm7               C               Bb   F 
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks 


verse 3 
          F                   C/E             Bb           F/C 
They just chalked it down in history but they kept their uniforms 

               Bb            F                   G                  C 
They put their medals on the sideboards and they went back to their farms 

           F             C/E              Bb               F 
For it was just a mere reminder that they stood beside the best 

     Bb                F                  C                  F 
That God had saved the chosen few and the devil took the rest 

        F    C/E         Dm   F/C          Bb  F 
Take it home,    take it low, take responsibilities 

Gm                             C  Bb C 
Came the message from the front 

        F        C/E          Dm      F/C Bb     C/A 
For the captains,    captains quarters    must retreat 

         Gm7               C               Bb   F 
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks 


verse 4 
       F                C/E                 Bb/D              F 
On the planes above the rock face where the sculptured eagles swoop 

          Bb                F               G               C 
There's a haunted yell for action among the spectres of his troops 

       F             C/E              Bb           F 
It was silent on the coastline as the crazy angels danced 

         Bb                   F                C            F 
With the sound of retreating footfall from his military camp 

        F    C/E         Dm   F/C          Bb  F 
Take it home,    take it low, take responsibilities 

Gm                             C  Bb  C 
Came the message from the front 

        F        C/E          Dm      F/C Bb     C/A 
For the captains,    captains quarters    must retreat 

         Gm7               C               Bb   F 
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks