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Should I Ever Be A Soldier

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[Verse 1]
We're C#mspending bG#millions C#mevery G#myear
For C#mguns and aG#mmmunEition
"Our F#mArmy" and "Our ENavy" dear
To F#mkeep in good conG#mdition;
While C#mmillions G#mlive in C#mmiseG#mry
And C#mmillions Bdied beEfore us
Don't F#msing "My Country, 'Etis of thee,"
But F#sing this little Bchorus
[Chorus]
Should I Eever Abe a Esoldier
'Neath the ARed Flag BI would Efight;
Should the Agun I ever Eshoulder
It's to F#crush the Btyrant's F#might
Join the Earmy of Athe Etoilers
Men and Bwomen fall in line
C#Wage slaves of the world! AArouse!
C#Do your duty for the Acause
For BLand and ELiberty
[Verse 2]
And C#mmany a G#mmaiden, C#mpure and G#mfair
Her C#mlove and G#mpride must Eoffer
On MF#mammon's altar in Edespair
To F#mfill the master's G#mcoffer
The C#mgold that G#mpays the C#mmighty G#mfleet
From C#mtender Byouth he Esqueezes
While F#mbrawny men must Ewalk the street
And fF#ace the wintry Bbreezes
[Chorus]
ShoEuld I Aever Ebe a soldier
'Neath the ARed Flag BI would Efight;
Should the Agun I ever Eshoulder
It's to F#crush the Btyrant's F#might
Join the Earmy of Athe Etoilers
Men and Bwomen fall in line
C#Wage slaves of the world! AArouse!
C#Do your duty for the Acause
For BLand and ELiberty
[Verse 3] 
Why C#mdo they moG#munt their C#mgatling G#mgun
A C#mthousand G#mmiles from Eocean
Where hF#mostile fleet could Enever run--
Ain't F#mthat a funny G#mnotion?
If C#myou don't G#mknow the C#mreason G#mwhy
Just C#mstrike for Bbetter Ewages
And F#mthen, my friends--Eif you don't die--
You'll F#sing this song for Bages
[Chorus]
ShoEuld I Aever Ebe a soldier
'Neath the ARed Flag BI would Efight;
Should the Agun I ever Eshoulder
It's to F#crush the Btyrant's F#might
Join the Earmy of Athe Etoilers
Men and Bwomen fall in line
C#Wage slaves of the world! AArouse!
C#Do your duty for the Acause
For BLand and ELiberty

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Should I Ever Be A Soldier

by Joe Hill

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C#m

G#m

F#m

[Verse 1]

C#m G#m C#m G#m

We're spending billions every year

C#m G#m E

For guns and ammunition

F#m E

"Our Army" and "Our Navy" dear

F#m G#m

To keep in good condition;

C#m G#m C#m G#m

While millions live in misery

C#m B E

And millions died before us

F#m E

Don't sing "My Country, 'tis of thee,"

F# B

But sing this little chorus

[Chorus]

E A E

Should I ever be a soldier

A B E

'Neath the Red Flag I would fight;

A E

Should the gun I ever shoulder

F# B F#

It's to crush the tyrant's might

E A E

Join the army of the toilers

Men and women fall in line

C# A

Wage slaves of the world! Arouse!

C# A

Do your duty for the cause

B E

For Land and Liberty

[Verse 2]

C#m G#m C#m G#m

And many a maiden, pure and fair

C#m G#m E

Her love and pride must offer

F#m E

On Mammon's altar in despair

F#m G#m

To fill the master's coffer

C#m G#m C#m G#m

The gold that pays the mighty fleet

C#m B E

From tender youth he squeezes

F#m E

While brawny men must walk the street

F# B

And face the wintry breezes

[Chorus]

E A E

Should I ever be a soldier

A B E

'Neath the Red Flag I would fight;

A E

Should the gun I ever shoulder

F# B F#

It's to crush the tyrant's might

E A E

Join the army of the toilers

Men and women fall in line

C# A

Wage slaves of the world! Arouse!

C# A

Do your duty for the cause

B E

For Land and Liberty

[Verse 3]

C#m G#m C#m G#m

Why do they mount their gatling gun

C#m G#m E

A thousand miles from ocean

F#m E

Where hostile fleet could never run--

F#m G#m

Ain't that a funny notion?

C#m G#m C#m G#m

If you don't know the reason why

C#m B E

Just strike for better wages

F#m E

And then, my friends--if you don't die--

F# B

You'll sing this song for ages

[Chorus]

E A E

Should I ever be a soldier

A B E

'Neath the Red Flag I would fight;

A E

Should the gun I ever shoulder

F# B F#

It's to crush the tyrant's might

E A E

Join the army of the toilers

Men and women fall in line

C# A

Wage slaves of the world! Arouse!

C# A

Do your duty for the cause

B E

For Land and Liberty

About Should I Ever Be A Soldier Chords by Joe Hill

Learn how to play Should I Ever Be A Soldier by Joe Hill with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Should I Ever Be A Soldier chords”, “Should I Ever Be A Soldier guitar chords”, or “Joe Hill Should I Ever Be A Soldier 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 Should I Ever Be A Soldier chords and for experienced players who want accurate Should I Ever Be A Soldier lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C#m, G#m, E, F#m, B, F#.

FAQ — Should I Ever Be A Soldier by Joe Hill

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The chords for "Should I Ever Be A Soldier" show the original chord names (including C#m, G#m, E, F#m, B, F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.