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In Imperialist Wars

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[Verse 1]
When they Dgive you gun and tell you F#mwar has begun
And send you Gout to do some Amurder
DDon't fight on their wars defy F#mall their bourgeois laws
Class brothers Gmust not Ashoot one anDother
[Chorus]
DIn imperialist wars workers give their lives
The Gruling class makes no sacrifDice
We have no Gchoice if we want to live in peace
Don't Ddie for them but Gbring them Ato their Dknees
[Verse 2]
DBefore the first world war, labour F#mleaders hotly swore
That by the Gworking class they'd Astand
DBut when the capitalist called, on their F#mwell-worn knees they crawled
To Gfight for their Aglorious homeDland
When the Dspectre of world war comes F#mknocking at the door
Class Gtraitors start to Ahowl
But Dwe don't have to fear, it means the F#mtime is getting near
When the Gworking Aclass shall Drule
[Chorus]
DIn imperialist wars workers give their lives
The Gruling class makes no sacrifDice
We have no Gchoice if we want to live in peace
Don't Ddie for them but Gbring them Ato their Dknees
[Verse 3]
Some Dsay the British empire has F#mfinally expired
And its Grulers lost all Alife
But Dif that's so we would like to know why in F#mmany lands across the globe
they Gstill wield their Abutchers Dknife
In Dlands across the sea they're now F#mfighting to be free
Their deGmand is to rule themAselves
We've Dgot a common cause we must supF#mport them in their wars
By Gfighting to Afree ourDselves
[Chorus]
DIn imperialist wars workers give their lives
The Gruling class makes no sacrifDice
We have no Gchoice if we want to live in peace
Don't Ddie for them but Gbring them Ato their Dknees

All chords in this song (4)

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In Imperialist Wars

by Cornelius Cardew

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

[Verse 1]

D F#m

When they give you gun and tell you war has begun

G A

And send you out to do some murder

D F#m

Don't fight on their wars defy all their bourgeois laws

G A D

Class brothers must not shoot one another

[Chorus]

In imperialist wars workers give their lives

G D

The ruling class makes no sacrifice

We have no choice if we want to live in peace

D G A D

Don't die for them but bring them to their knees

[Verse 2]

D F#m

Before the first world war, labour leaders hotly swore

G A

That by the working class they'd stand

D F#m

But when the capitalist called, on their well-worn knees they crawled

G A D

To fight for their glorious homeland

D F#m

When the spectre of world war comes knocking at the door

G A

Class traitors start to howl

D F#m

But we don't have to fear, it means the time is getting near

G A D

When the working class shall rule

[Chorus]

In imperialist wars workers give their lives

G D

The ruling class makes no sacrifice

We have no choice if we want to live in peace

D G A D

Don't die for them but bring them to their knees

[Verse 3]

D F#m

Some say the British empire has finally expired

G A

And its rulers lost all life

D F#m

But if that's so we would like to know why in many lands across the globe

G A D

they still wield their butchers knife

D F#m

In lands across the sea they're now fighting to be free

G A

Their demand is to rule themselves

D F#m

We've got a common cause we must support them in their wars

G A D

By fighting to free ourselves

[Chorus]

In imperialist wars workers give their lives

G D

The ruling class makes no sacrifice

We have no choice if we want to live in peace

D G A D

Don't die for them but bring them to their knees

About In Imperialist Wars Chords by Cornelius Cardew

Learn how to play In Imperialist Wars by Cornelius Cardew with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “In Imperialist Wars chords”, “In Imperialist Wars guitar chords”, or “Cornelius Cardew In Imperialist Wars 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 In Imperialist Wars chords and for experienced players who want accurate In Imperialist Wars lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, F#m, G, A.

FAQ — In Imperialist Wars by Cornelius Cardew

How do I play "In Imperialist Wars" by Cornelius Cardew on guitar?

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Can I transpose "In Imperialist Wars" to a different key?

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Is "In Imperialist Wars" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "In Imperialist Wars" in?

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