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The Battle

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Eminor

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Strawbs - The Battle
INTRO:  C    Em   C  Em  
       Am Em D Em C D C D
       A Em A Em Am Em D Em
       C Em C
In the early dawn the Bishop's menEm  
DShivered in the Emdamp
But the shiver came not from the Dcold
And Cspread throughout the Dcamp
The Atrembling horses Emsensed the fear
Of Asilent thoughtful Emmen
Who Amprayed that wives and Emfamilies
Might Dsee them once aEmgainC  Em  C  
The Bishop sent a dawn patrolEm  
To Dinvestigate the weightEm  
Of forces at the King's Dcommand
EnCsconced behind the Dgate
The Aground mist hid the Empatrol's approach
As they Adrew close enough to Emshow
The Amsentries on the Embattlements
And an Darcher drew his EmbowC  Em  C  
From the topmost tower a sentry fellEm  
As an Darrow pierced his Emskull
And his headlong flight inDto the moat
CSeemed that of a Dgull
The Apatrol reported Emlittle
There was Anothing much to Emsee
But the Amstrong and silent Emcastle
A Dsymbol of the EmfreeC  Em  C  
        N.C.           Em  
The King's men took communion
N.C.     DN.C.           Em  
As the first rays of the sun
N.C.                     DN.C.
Lit up the chapel's gloomy walls
The Cfatal day beDgun
From the Acastle green the Emrooks took flight
To the Ahigh trees in the Emeast
To their Amcarrion minds the Embattlefield
Set a Dtable for a EmfeastC  Em  C  
A tide of black, the Bishop's menEm  
DEquality their Emright
Swarmed like ants aDcross the hill
Their Caim at last in Dsight
The AKing's men dressed in Empurest white
Were Adriven back by Emforce
And the Amfighting grew more Emviolent
As the Dbattle took its EmcourseC  Em  C  
The Bishops gave the orderEm  
"No Dmercy to be Emshown.
The sacrifice will Dreap rewards 
When the CKing is overDthrown"
The Asight of children Emlying dead 
Made Ahardened soldiers Emweep
The Amouter walls beEmgan to fall
They Dmoved towards the EmkeepC  Em  C  
The rooks surveyed the battlefieldEm  
Their Dhungry beady Emeyes
Revelled in the sight of Ddeath
CShowing no surDprise
The Apressure mounted Emsteadily 
As the ABishops neared the Emgate
And the Amdesperate King called Emto his knights
"It's your Dlives or the Emstate"C  Em  C  
When the anxious King began to failEm  
As Dmany thought he Emmight
The Queen ran screaming Dround the walls
And Curged the men to Dfight
The ABishops' men were Emtiring
As the Aafternoon grew Emlate
And the AmKing's men lowered the Emdrawbridge
And Dpoured out through the EmgateC  Em  C  
They fought their way across the bridgeEm  
The Dmen like falling Emleaves
Or ears of corn that Dfall in swathes
The Cvicious sickle Dcleaves
The Atide receded Emup the hill
The Awaste of reclaimed Emland
AmOnce decaying Emswamp became
A Dshore of pure white EmsandC  Em  C  
A blinded priest was seen to blessEm  
Both Ddying and the Emdead
As he stumbled around the Dbattlefield
His Ccassock running Dred
If Auniform were black or Emwhite
His Aeyes could never Emsee
And Amdeath made no disEmtinction
WhatDever man he EmbeC  Em  C  
As darkness fell both camps withdrewEm  
Their Dsoldiers slain like Emcattle
Leaving the rooks to Dfeast alone
The Cvictors of the Dbattle
At F#mevensong the Emcamps reviewed
Their F#msad depleted Emranks
As surDvivors of the Cbattle
Gave Bmgod Dtheir grateful Athanks

All chords in this song (7)

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The Battle

by Strawbs

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Strawbs - The Battle

C Em C Em

INTRO:

Am Em D Em C D C D

A Em A Em Am Em D Em

C Em C

In the early dawn the Bishop's men

D Em

Shivered in the damp

But the shiver came not from the cold

C D

And spread throughout the camp

A Em

The trembling horses sensed the fear

A Em

Of silent thoughtful men

Am Em

Who prayed that wives and families

D Em C Em C

Might see them once again

The Bishop sent a dawn patrol

D Em

To investigate the weight

Of forces at the King's command

C D

Ensconced behind the gate

A Em

The ground mist hid the patrol's approach

A Em

As they drew close enough to show

Am Em

The sentries on the battlements

D Em C Em C

And an archer drew his bow

From the topmost tower a sentry fell

D Em

As an arrow pierced his skull

And his headlong flight into the moat

C D

Seemed that of a gull

A Em

The patrol reported little

A Em

There was nothing much to see

Am Em

But the strong and silent castle

D Em C Em C

A symbol of the free

N.C.

The King's men took communion

D Em

N.C. N.C.

As the first rays of the sun

N.C. N.C.

Lit up the chapel's gloomy walls

C D

The fatal day begun

A Em

From the castle green the rooks took flight

A Em

To the high trees in the east

Am Em

To their carrion minds the battlefield

D Em C Em C

Set a table for a feast

A tide of black, the Bishop's men

D Em

Equality their right

Swarmed like ants across the hill

C D

Their aim at last in sight

A Em

The King's men dressed in purest white

A Em

Were driven back by force

Am Em

And the fighting grew more violent

D Em C Em C

As the battle took its course

The Bishops gave the order

D Em

"No mercy to be shown.

The sacrifice will reap rewards

C D

When the King is overthrown"

A Em

The sight of children lying dead

A Em

Made hardened soldiers weep

Am Em

The outer walls began to fall

D Em C Em C

They moved towards the keep

The rooks surveyed the battlefield

D Em

Their hungry beady eyes

Revelled in the sight of death

C D

Showing no surprise

A Em

The pressure mounted steadily

A Em

As the Bishops neared the gate

Am Em

And the desperate King called to his knights

D Em C Em C

"It's your lives or the state"

When the anxious King began to fail

D Em

As many thought he might

The Queen ran screaming round the walls

C D

And urged the men to fight

A Em

The Bishops' men were tiring

A Em

As the afternoon grew late

Am Em

And the King's men lowered the drawbridge

D Em C Em C

And poured out through the gate

They fought their way across the bridge

D Em

The men like falling leaves

Or ears of corn that fall in swathes

C D

The vicious sickle cleaves

A Em

The tide receded up the hill

A Em

The waste of reclaimed land

Am Em

Once decaying swamp became

D Em C Em C

A shore of pure white sand

A blinded priest was seen to bless

D Em

Both dying and the dead

As he stumbled around the battlefield

C D

His cassock running red

A Em

If uniform were black or white

A Em

His eyes could never see

Am Em

And death made no distinction

D Em C Em C

Whatever man he be

As darkness fell both camps withdrew

D Em

Their soldiers slain like cattle

Leaving the rooks to feast alone

C D

The victors of the battle

F#m Em

At evensong the camps reviewed

F#m Em

Their sad depleted ranks

D C

As survivors of the battle

Bm D A

Gave god their grateful thanks

About The Battle Chords by Strawbs

Learn how to play The Battle by Strawbs with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Battle chords”, “The Battle guitar chords”, or “Strawbs The 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 Battle chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Battle lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Em, Am, D, A, F#m.

FAQ — The Battle by Strawbs

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The chords for "The Battle" show the original chord names (including C, Em, Am, D, A, F#m). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.