Now playing

When A Soldier Makes It Home

Chords

4.840 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

From: Arlo Guthrie 
Capoed up on the 2nd fret. I left out the
suspensions etc... It's more or less like this:
CHalfway around the Emworld tonight
In a Fstrange and Gforeign Cland 
A Amsoldier packs his Emmemories
As he Fleaves AfghaniGstan 
And Amback home they don't Emknow too much 
There's Fjust no way to Gtell 
I Cguess you had to Embe there 
For to Fknow that war was Ghell
Chorus:
And therFe won't be aAmny victorFy parades
For Cthose that's coming Fback 
They'll Amfly them in at Emmidnight 
And unFload the body Gsacks
And the lAmiving will be Emwalking down
A Flong and lonely Groad 
Because Cnobody seems to Emcare these days 
When a Fsoldier Gmakes it Chome
CThey'll say it wasnEm't easy
Just Fanother job Gwell donCe
As Amthe government in EmKabul falls
To the Fsounds of rebGel guns
And Amthe faces of the comrEmades
Being blFown out of the Gsky
LeCaves you bitter wEmith the feeling
That theFy didn't have tGo die
And therFe won't be aAmny victorFy parades
For Cthose that's coming Fback
They'll fAmly them in at mEmidnight
And unFload the body Gsacks
And the lAmiving will be Emwalking down
A Flong and lonely Groad
Because Cnobody seems to Emcare these days
When a Fsoldier Gmakes it Chome
CHalfway around the Emworld tonight
In a Fstrange and Gforeign Cland
A Amsoldier unpacks meEmmories
That hFe saved from VGietnam
Back Amhome they didn't knoEmw too much
There waFs just no way tGo tell
I Cguess you had to Embe there
For to kFnow that war waGs hell
And therFe wasn't any Ambig paraFdes
For Cthose that made it bFack
They flew Amthem in at midEmnight
And unFloaded all the Gsacks
And the lAmiving were lefEmt walking down
A Flong and lonely Groad
Because Cnobody seemed to Emcare back then
When a Fsoldier Gmade it hCome
CThe night is coming Emquickly
And tFhe stars are Gon theiCr way
As AmI stare into the Emevening
LookinFg for the wordGs to say
That AmI saw the lonely solEmdier
Just a bFoy that's far fGrom home
AnCd I saw that I waEms just like him
While upFon this earth I Groam
And therFe may not be Amany big Fparades
If I Cever make it backF  
As I come Amhome under covEmer
ThrougFh a world that Gcan't keep track
Of the heAmroes who have Emfallen
LeFt alone the ones Gwho won't
Which is Cwhy nobody seemEms to care
When a Fsoldier Gmakes it Chome

All chords in this song (5)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

When A Soldier Makes It Home

by Arlo Guthrie

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

From: Arlo Guthrie

Capoed up on the 2nd fret. I left out the

suspensions etc... It's more or less like this:

C Em

Halfway around the world tonight

F G C

In a strange and foreign land

Am Em

A soldier packs his memories

F G

As he leaves Afghanistan

Am Em

And back home they don't know too much

F G

There's just no way to tell

C Em

I guess you had to be there

F G

For to know that war was hell

Chorus:

F Am F

And there won't be any victory parades

C F

For those that's coming back

Am Em

They'll fly them in at midnight

F G

And unload the body sacks

Am Em

And the living will be walking down

F G

A long and lonely road

C Em

Because nobody seems to care these days

F G C

When a soldier makes it home

C Em

They'll say it wasn't easy

F G C

Just another job well done

Am Em

As the government in Kabul falls

F G

To the sounds of rebel guns

Am Em

And the faces of the comrades

F G

Being blown out of the sky

C Em

Leaves you bitter with the feeling

F G

That they didn't have to die

F Am F

And there won't be any victory parades

C F

For those that's coming back

Am Em

They'll fly them in at midnight

F G

And unload the body sacks

Am Em

And the living will be walking down

F G

A long and lonely road

C Em

Because nobody seems to care these days

F G C

When a soldier makes it home

C Em

Halfway around the world tonight

F G C

In a strange and foreign land

Am Em

A soldier unpacks memories

F G

That he saved from Vietnam

Am Em

Back home they didn't know too much

F G

There was just no way to tell

C Em

I guess you had to be there

F G

For to know that war was hell

F Am F

And there wasn't any big parades

C F

For those that made it back

Am Em

They flew them in at midnight

F G

And unloaded all the sacks

Am Em

And the living were left walking down

F G

A long and lonely road

C Em

Because nobody seemed to care back then

F G C

When a soldier made it home

C Em

The night is coming quickly

F G C

And the stars are on their way

Am Em

As I stare into the evening

F G

Looking for the words to say

Am Em

That I saw the lonely soldier

F G

Just a boy that's far from home

C Em

And I saw that I was just like him

F G

While upon this earth I roam

F Am F

And there may not be any big parades

C F

If I ever make it back

Am Em

As I come home under cover

F G

Through a world that can't keep track

Am Em

Of the heroes who have fallen

F G

Let alone the ones who won't

C Em

Which is why nobody seems to care

F G C

When a soldier makes it home

About When A Soldier Makes It Home Chords by Arlo Guthrie

Learn how to play When A Soldier Makes It Home by Arlo Guthrie with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “When A Soldier Makes It Home chords”, “When A Soldier Makes It Home guitar chords”, or “Arlo Guthrie When A Soldier Makes It Home 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 When A Soldier Makes It Home chords and for experienced players who want accurate When A Soldier Makes It Home lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Em, F, G, Am, A.

FAQ — When A Soldier Makes It Home by Arlo Guthrie

How do I play "When A Soldier Makes It Home" by Arlo Guthrie on guitar?

Open the free chords for "When A Soldier Makes It Home" by Arlo Guthrie 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 "When A Soldier Makes It Home" by Arlo Guthrie free?

Yes. The chords for "When A Soldier Makes It Home" by Arlo Guthrie are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "When A Soldier Makes It Home" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "When A Soldier Makes It Home" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "When A Soldier Makes It Home"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "When A Soldier Makes It Home" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "When A Soldier Makes It Home" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "When A Soldier Makes It Home" by Arlo Guthrie with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Arlo Guthrie below.

What key is "When A Soldier Makes It Home" in?

The chords for "When A Soldier Makes It Home" show the original chord names (including C, Em, F, G, Am, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.