The Big Battle

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
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.

The Big Battle chords and lyrics

Free chords for The Big Battle by Johnny Cash. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

Intro:
|     A     |     A     |     A     |     A     |
I'm tired of running for cover;
All left is the dead and the dyin',
Interlude:
|     G     |     G     |     G     |     G     |
You carelessly rise from your cover,
Interlude
|     A     |     A     |     A     |     A     |
It's just the horses and wagons
Interlude
|     G     |     G     |     G     |     G     |
The rest of the battle will cover
Interlude
|     A     |     A     |     A     |     A     |
Brother and sister and daughter
Interlude
|     G     |     G     |     G     |     G     |
The rest of the battle will cover

The Big Battle Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play The Big Battle by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Big Battle chords”, “The Big Battle guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash The Big Battle chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Big Battle chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Big Battle lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, E7, D, G, D7, C.

Frequently asked questions about The Big Battle

How do I play "The Big Battle" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Big Battle" by Johnny Cash on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Big Battle" by Johnny Cash free?

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Can I transpose "The Big Battle" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Big Battle" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Big Battle"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Big Battle" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Big Battle" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Big Battle" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "The Big Battle" in?

The chords for "The Big Battle" show the original chord names (including A, E7, D, G, D7, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.