Chord/Tab song: The Big Battle

Intro:

| A | A | A | A |

[A]I think, sir, the battle is over;
And the young soldier lay down his gun.[E7]

I'm tired of running for cover;
I'm certain the battle is done.[A]
O'er sea[D] over there where we fought them[A]
It's q[E7]uiet, for they've all gone away.[A]

All left is the dead and the dyin',
the blu[E7]e lyin' long side the grave.[A]

Interlude:

| G | G | G | G |

So, yo[G]u think the battle is over,
and you even lay down your gun.[D7]

You carelessly rise from your cover,
for you think the battle is done.[G]
Now, boy,[C] hit the dirt, listen to me,[G]
for I[D7]'m still the one in command.[G][D7]
Get fla[G]t on the ground here beside me
and lay[D7] your ear to the sand.[G]

Interlude

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Can you[A] here the deafening rumble?
Can you feel the trembling ground?[E7]

It's just the horses and wagons
that make such deafening sound.[A]
For ev[D]'ry shot fired had an echo[A]
and ev[E7]'ry man killed wanted life.[A][E7]
[A]There lies your friend, Jim McKinney.
Can you[E7] take the news to his wife?[A]

Interlude

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[G]No, son, the battle's not over;
the battle has only begun.[D7]

The rest of the battle will cover
the part that has blackened the sun.[G]
The fig[C]ht yet to come's not with cannons,[G]
Nor wil[D7]l the fight be hand to hand.[G][D7]
[G]No one will regroup the forces;
No cha[D7]rge will a gen'ral command.[G]

Interlude

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The bat[A]tle will rage in the bosom
of mother and sweetheart and wife.[E7]

Brother and sister and daughter
will grieve for the rest of their lives.[A]
Now, quiet[D], rise from your cover.[A]
Be tha[E7]nkful that God let you live,[A][E7]
to g[A]o fight the rest of the battle
for th[E7]ose who gave all they could give.[A]

Interlude

| G | G | G | G |

I [G]see, sir, the battle's not over;
the battle has only begun.[D7]

The rest of the battle will cover
this part that has blackened the sun.[G]
For tho[C]ugh there's no sound of the cannon,[G]
and tho[D7]ugh there's no smoke in the sky,[G][D7]
I'm dr[G]oppin' my gun and the saber,
and rea[D]dy for battle am I.[G]


For more Johnny Cash chords, see www.unofficial-johnnycash.com!