Fifty Years On

	  		 


INTRO: Am 


verse 1 
 

He was first one out of the landing craft  
         G                     Am 
When the ramp hit the churning sand  

He was first one out of the red-cross train 
       G  
To the sound of the big brass band  
       C                     G 
He was first in line for his demob suit  
         Am                  Em 
When the war he'd fought was won  
        Am 
Then he settled down, rebuilt his town  
G                   Am 
Thought his job was done  



            G               Am 
Fifty years on, fifty years on  
                        G 
He's grown too old, his house is sold  
    C               E 
And all his money's gone  
     Am                                    G 
Like him, it's thrown to the nursing home  
            Am 
Fifty years on 
 


verse 2 
 

She ferried fighters through the sky  
    G                 Am 
She flew the big ones too  

There was no job the air force had  
    G  
She felt she couldn't do  
     C                    G 
From dawn she'd toil with plug and coil  
    Am             Em 
Her scent was oily rag  
    Am 
Her mad days and her salad days  
G            Am 
Given to the flag  



            G               Am 
Fifty years on, fifty years on  
                           G 
Her face is bruised, she's been abused  
    C                E 
And all her spirit's gone  
       Am                                   G 
He was just a child, but the kids are wild  
            Am 
Fifty years on 
 


BRIDGE 
 
            G               Am 
Fifty years on, fifty years gone  
            F               C                      E 
And they've lost a war they could have sworn they'd won  
            G               Am 
Fifty years on, fifty years gone  
        F                                       C                   E 
And the kids say please to the Japanese, can we work for the new Nippon  
            Am 
Fifty years on  

 
verse 3 
 

Yes, the kids are wild and on the street  
G           Am 
Fifty years on  

But the courts are mild when they mug and beat  
G   
Fifty years on  
          C                          G 
They were youngsters then, they were boys not men  
Am                 Em 
Girls who grew too fast  
          Am 
They were our front line, now it's me and mine  
        G             Am 
And the old ones come last  


            G               Am 
Fifty years on, fifty years on  
                             G 
They're fighting still, they always will  
    C            E 
But with so many gone  
     Am                                  G 
They stand with pride, but someone lied 
            Am 
Fifty years on 


BRIDGE 
 
            G               Am 
Fifty years on, fifty years gone  
            F               C                      E 
And they've lost a war they could have sworn they'd won  
            G               Am 
Fifty years on, fifty years gone  
        F                                       C                   E 
And the kids say please to the Japanese, can we work for the new Nippon  
            Am         G 
Fifty years on, time's passed  
            Am          G 
Fifty years on, they're last  
            Am 
Fifty years on