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Volunteers

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Mark Erelli - Volunteers
CAPO: 4th fret
[Intro]
Am  F  C  G  F
[Verse 1]
I played with Carmy men as a Fboy in my backCyard
I was eighteen when I joined the National GGuard
I Fcakewalked basic, and they paid for my Cdegree
All for Ffilling up sandbags and clearing storm deGbris
[Verse 2]
And I had Amjust re-upped on the Fbase in my homeCtown
When the whole deal changed on the day that the planes went Gdown
Just a Emcasual soldier, twelve weekends a Fyear
I was Baghdad Cbound when they called Gup the volunCteers F  Am  G  
[Verse 3]
We’d seen Cmore than enough to Fknow war is Chell
But we were thinking that we had it made once the capital Gfell
So we Fpartied in the palaces and waited to withCdraw
'Til Fthings started going south both sides of the Gwall
[Verse 4]
First the Amlooting, the suicide Fbombers and the IECD's
Then the prisons and the torture and all those pictures on TGV
The Emkickbacks, the blackouts, the martyrs and the Ffear
And now Ceveryone in Babylon Gblames the voluntCeers F  Am  G  
[Verse 5]
There was a Croadside bomb on a Fconvoy late one Cnight
I was fine, but this buddy of mine probably should have Gdied
So they Fradioed a medevac and I tried to keep him Cwarm
Now he’s back Fhome learning how to feed himself with two new Garms
[Verse 6]
And all the Amothers, they suffer from Fwounds that you can’t Csee
So they try to forget and go back home to their jobs and their famiGlies
Yeah we got Empaid, no one made us come over Fhere
But it ain't Cclose to an even Gtrade for the voluntFeers
[Instrumental]
Am  C  G  Am  F  C  G  F
[Verse 7]
Maybe we’ll Call be judged by Fhistory and Cgod
Maybe the best way to honour the departed is to finish the Gjob
But while they Fargue who is winning and whether we should go or Cstay
Over Fhere it’s a victory just to make it through another Gday
[Verse 8]
And me I’m Amlong past making any Fsense of the blood I've Cspilled
But it's hard to believe this is all part of any God’s Gwill
And if you Emfind I’ve fallen after all the smoke has Fcleared
Let the record Cshow GI voluntAmeered
Let the record Cshow GI voluntAmeered
[Outro]
F  Am  G  Am  F  C  G  C

All chords in this song (5)

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Volunteers

by Mark Erelli

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Mark Erelli - Volunteers

CAPO: 4th fret

[Intro]

Am F C G F

[Verse 1]

C F C

I played with army men as a boy in my backyard

I was eighteen when I joined the National Guard

F C

I cakewalked basic, and they paid for my degree

F G

All for filling up sandbags and clearing storm debris

[Verse 2]

Am F C

And I had just re-upped on the base in my hometown

When the whole deal changed on the day that the planes went down

Em F

Just a casual soldier, twelve weekends a year

C G C F Am G

I was Baghdad bound when they called up the volunteers

[Verse 3]

C F C

We’d seen more than enough to know war is hell

But we were thinking that we had it made once the capital fell

F C

So we partied in the palaces and waited to withdraw

F G

'Til things started going south both sides of the wall

[Verse 4]

Am F C

First the looting, the suicide bombers and the IED's

Then the prisons and the torture and all those pictures on TV

Em F

The kickbacks, the blackouts, the martyrs and the fear

C G C F Am G

And now everyone in Babylon blames the volunteers

[Verse 5]

C F C

There was a roadside bomb on a convoy late one night

I was fine, but this buddy of mine probably should have died

F C

So they radioed a medevac and I tried to keep him warm

F G

Now he’s back home learning how to feed himself with two new arms

[Verse 6]

Am F C

And all the others, they suffer from wounds that you can’t see

So they try to forget and go back home to their jobs and their families

Em F

Yeah we got paid, no one made us come over here

C G F

But it ain't close to an even trade for the volunteers

[Instrumental]

Am C G Am F C G F

[Verse 7]

C F C

Maybe we’ll all be judged by history and god

Maybe the best way to honour the departed is to finish the job

F C

But while they argue who is winning and whether we should go or stay

F G

Over here it’s a victory just to make it through another day

[Verse 8]

Am F C

And me I’m long past making any sense of the blood I've spilled

But it's hard to believe this is all part of any God’s will

Em F

And if you find I’ve fallen after all the smoke has cleared

C G Am

Let the record show I volunteered

C G Am

Let the record show I volunteered

[Outro]

F Am G Am F C G C

About Volunteers Chords by Mark Erelli

Learn how to play Volunteers by Mark Erelli with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Volunteers chords”, “Volunteers guitar chords”, or “Mark Erelli Volunteers 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 Volunteers chords and for experienced players who want accurate Volunteers lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, F, C, G, Em.

FAQ — Volunteers by Mark Erelli

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