The Patriots Dream Chords

The Patriot's Dream by Gordon Lightfoot
 
CAPO 2nd Fret
 
 
VERSE 1:
    G                        C
The songs of the wars are as old as the hills
     G                          A               D
They cling like the rust on the cold steel that kills
     G                                     C
They tell of the boys who went down to the tracks
     D                         C                   G
In a patriotic manner with the cold steel on their backs
 
 
VERSE 2:
    G                     C
The patriot's dream is as old as the sky 
    G                     A            D
It lives in the lust of a cold callous lie 
      G                                      C
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill 
       D                       C               G
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
 
 
Instrumental (Same as Verse)
 
 
VERSE 3:
    G                         C
The train pulled away on that glorious night 
     G                        A          D
The drummer got drunk and the bugler got tight 
          G                                    C
While the boys in the back sang a song of good cheer 
      D                          C               G
While riding off to glory in the spring of their years
 
 
VERSE 4:
    G                     C
The patriot's dream still lives on today 
   G                         A            D
It makes mothers weep and it makes lovers pray 
      G                                      C
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
       D                       C               G
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
 
 
  *#(On 6th string strum/pluck notes G - F# - E while slowing tempo)#*
          *#(In other words, walk down bass slowing pace)#*
 
 
VERSE 5:
Em         G     D        Em    G       D         Em
Well there was a sad, sad lady, weeping all night long
      G        D        Em              G            D   Em
She received a sad, sad message, from a voice on the telephone
    G        D        Em               G      D       Em
Her children were all sleeping, as she waited out the dawn
    G         D          Em                   G      D        G
How could she tell those children, that their father was shot down
    G         D      Em                     G         D      Em
She took them to her side that day, and she told them one by one
      G     D     Em           G        D          G     B7
Your father was a good man ten-thousand miles from home____
   Am              D           G                    Cmaj7
He tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell
   Am               D         G                 Cmaj7  Am
He might be in some prison, I hope he's treated well
 
 
VERSE 6:
Em         G     D          Em              G     D    Em
Well there was a young girl watching in the early afternoon 
         G         D       Em          G         D       Em
When she heard the name of someone who said he'd be home soon 
        G        D        Em               G      D       Em
And she wondered how they got him, but the papers did not tell 
            G     D        Em                G     D       G
There would be no sweet reunion, there would be no wedding bells 
       G         D    Em                  G          D          Em
So she took herself into her room and she turned the bed sheets down 
        G       D      Em              G       D       G     B7
And she cried into the silken folds of her new wedding gown____ 
   Am              D           G                    Cmaj7
He tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell 
   Am               D         G                 Cmaj7  Am
He might be in some prison, I hope he's treated well
 
 
VERSE 7:
Em         G      D       Em             G       D      Em
Well there was an old man sitting in his mansion on the hill 
       G          D        Em              G         D      Em
And he thought of his good fortune and the time he'd yet to kill 
        G      D      Em                  G        D    Em
Well he called to his wife one day, "Come sit with me awhile" 
     G         D        Em         G        D      G
Then turning toward the sunset, he smiled a wicked smile 
          G        D      Em            G      D          Em
"Well I'd like to say I'm sorry for the sinful deeds I've done 
    G       D      Em              G    D    G    B7
But let me first remind you, I'm a patriotic son____" 
     Am                 D          G                    Cmaj7
They tried to do their duty and it took 'em straight to hell 
     Am               D         G                    Cmaj7  Am
They might be in some prison, I hope they're treated well
 
            *#(Increase tempo to original)#*
 
 
VERSE 8:
    G                        C
The songs of the wars are as old as the hills
     G                          A               D
They cling like the rust on the cold steel that kills
     G                                     C
They tell of the boys who went down to the tracks
     D                         C                   G
In a patriotic manner with the cold steel on their backs
 
 
VERSE 9:
    G                         C
The train pulled away on that glorious night 
     G                        A          D
The drummer got drunk and the bugler got tight 
          G                                    C
While the boys in the back sang a song of good cheer 
      D                          C               G
While riding off to glory in the spring of their years
 
 
VERSE 10:
    G                     C
The patriot's dream still lives on today 
   G                         A            D
It makes mothers weep and it makes lovers pray 
      G                                      C
Let's drink to the men who got caught by the chill
       D                       C               G
Of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills
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