Johnny Cash – The Big Battle (Guitar)

Key
-

Auto-scroll

Chords

Intro: | A | A | A | A |
A
I think, sir, the battle is over;

                                                          E7
And the young soldier lay down his gun.
I'm tired of running for cover;
                                     A
I'm certain the battle is done.

        D                                    A
O'er sea over there where we fought them

      E7                                      A
It's quiet, for they've all gone away.
All left is the dead and the dyin',
       E7                               A
the blue lyin' long side the grave.
Interlude: | G | G | G | G |
      G
So, you think the battle is over,

                                              D7
and you even lay down your gun.
You carelessly rise from your cover,
                                       G
for you think the battle is done.

         C                                  G
Now, boy, hit the dirt, listen to me,

     D7                               G        D7
for I'm still the one in command.

       G
Get flat on the ground here beside me

       D7                       G
and lay your ear to the sand.
Interlude | A | A | A | A |
       A
Can you here the deafening rumble?

                                           E7
Can you feel the trembling ground?
It's just the horses and wagons
                                         A
that make such deafening sound.

      D                                  A
For ev'ry shot fired had an echo

      E7                                   A      E7
and ev'ry man killed wanted life.

A
There lies your friend, Jim McKinney.

       E7                                   A
Can you take the news to his wife?
Interlude | G | G | G | G |
G
No, son, the battle's not over;

                                  D7
the battle has only begun.
The rest of the battle will cover
                                                 G
the part that has blackened the sun.

       C                                         G
The fight yet to come's not with cannons,

       D7                                  G       D7
Nor will the fight be hand to hand.

G                      
No one will regroup the forces;

      D7                                  G
No charge will a gen'ral command.
Interlude | A | A | A | A |
       A
The battle will rage in the bosom

                                                E7
of mother and sweetheart and wife.
Brother and sister and daughter
                                               A
will grieve for the rest of their lives.

          D                              A
Now, quiet, rise from your cover.

      E7                                   A       E7
Be thankful that God let you live,

    A
to go fight the rest of the battle

      E7                                            A
for those who gave all they could give.
Interlude | G | G | G | G |
  G
I see, sir, the battle's not over;

                                  D7
the battle has only begun.
The rest of the battle will cover
                                                G
this part that has blackened the sun.

       C                                             G
For though there's no sound of the cannon,

       D7                                            G       D7
and though there's no smoke in the sky,

      G
I'm droppin' my gun and the saber,

       D                           G
and ready for battle am I.