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The Legionnaires Lament

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Verse shapes -
  Dm- x57765
   F- x33211
  F#- x44322 
 (F# is just a passing chord between F and G in verse)
   G- x55433
  Gm- 355333
   A- x02220
Chorus shapes -
   F- 133211
 C/G- 332010
  Gm- 355333
  Bb- x13331
 Bbm- x13321
[Verse 1]
I'm a Dmlegionnaire camel in Fdisrepair
Hoping for F#a Gfrigid heir to come Gmpassing Aby
I am Dmon reprieve lacking my Fjoie de vivre
Missing F#my Ggay Paris in this dGmesert dAry
And I Dmwrote my girl told her I Fwould not return
Terribly F#takGen a turn for the woGmrse now I Afear
It's been a Dmyear or more since they shipped me to this Fforeign shore
Fighting in F#a Gforeign war so far away Gmfrom my Ahome
[Chorus]
If only some Frain would fall on the hC/Gouses and the boulevards
And the Gmside walk bagatelles it's like a dreamBb  
With the Froar of cars and the C/Glulling of the cafe bars,
The sGmweetly sleeping sweeping of the BbSeine.
Lord I Bbmdon't know if I'll ever
be back Dmagain  La la da Fdum
La lF#a lGa lowGm  A  
[Verse 2]
Medicating Dmin the sun  pinched doses of Flaudanum
Longing for thF#e oGld fecundity of Gmmy homeAland
Curses Dmto this mirage, a bottle of Fancient Shiraz
A smatterinF#g oGf distant applause is ringing Gmin my poor Aears
On the Dmold left bank my baby in a Fcharabanc
Riding up tF#he Gwidth and length of the GmChamps ElyseeAs
[Chorus]
If only some Frain would fall on the hC/Gouses and the boulevards
And the Gmside walk bagatelles it's like a dreamBb  
With the Froar of cars and the C/Glulling of the cafe bars,
The sGmweetly sleeping sweeping of the BbSeine.
Lord I Bbmdon't know if I'll ever
be back Dmagain  La la da Fdum
La lF#a lGa lowGm  A  
[Interlude]
Dm F
F# G Gm A
[Chorus]
If only some Frain would fall on the hC/Gouses and the boulevards
And the Gmside walk bagatelles it's like a dreamBb  
With the Froar of cars and the C/Glulling of the cafe bars,
The sGmweetly sleeping sweeping of the BbSeine.
Lord I Bbmdon't know if I'll ever
Ending
be back agaiFn, be back agaiC/Gn,
Be back agaiGmn,  I'll be back agaBbin
Ah ah ahh Fohh    ah ah ahh C/Gohhh
La la la Gmlo    oh ohh oh oBbhhBbm  
[Outro accordion light guitar]
F C/G
Gm Bb Bbm Dm

All chords in this song (9)

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The Legionnaires Lament

by The Decemberists

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C/G

Bbm

Verse shapes -

- x57765

- x33211

- x44322

(F# is just a passing chord between F and G in verse)

- x55433

- 355333

- x02220

Chorus shapes -

- 133211

C/G

- 332010

- 355333

- x13331

Bbm

- x13321

[Verse 1]

Dm F

I'm a legionnaire camel in disrepair

F# G Gm A

Hoping for a frigid heir to come passing by

Dm F

I am on reprieve lacking my joie de vivre

F# G Gm A

Missing my gay Paris in this desert dry

Dm F

And I wrote my girl told her I would not return

F# G Gm A

Terribly taken a turn for the worse now I fear

Dm F

It's been a year or more since they shipped me to this foreign shore

F# G Gm A

Fighting in a foreign war so far away from my home

[Chorus]

F C/G

If only some rain would fall on the houses and the boulevards

Gm Bb

And the side walk bagatelles it's like a dream

F C/G

With the roar of cars and the lulling of the cafe bars,

Gm Bb

The sweetly sleeping sweeping of the Seine.

Bbm

Lord I don't know if I'll ever

Dm F

be back again La la da dum

F# G Gm A

La la la low

[Verse 2]

Dm F

Medicating in the sun pinched doses of laudanum

F# G Gm A

Longing for the old fecundity of my homeland

Dm F

Curses to this mirage, a bottle of ancient Shiraz

F# G Gm A

A smattering of distant applause is ringing in my poor ears

Dm F

On the old left bank my baby in a charabanc

F# G Gm A

Riding up the width and length of the Champs Elysees

[Chorus]

F C/G

If only some rain would fall on the houses and the boulevards

Gm Bb

And the side walk bagatelles it's like a dream

F C/G

With the roar of cars and the lulling of the cafe bars,

Gm Bb

The sweetly sleeping sweeping of the Seine.

Bbm

Lord I don't know if I'll ever

Dm F

be back again La la da dum

F# G Gm A

La la la low

[Interlude]

Dm F

F# G Gm A

[Chorus]

F C/G

If only some rain would fall on the houses and the boulevards

Gm Bb

And the side walk bagatelles it's like a dream

F C/G

With the roar of cars and the lulling of the cafe bars,

Gm Bb

The sweetly sleeping sweeping of the Seine.

Bbm

Lord I don't know if I'll ever

Ending

F C/G

be back again, be back again,

Gm Bb

Be back again, I'll be back again

F C/G

Ah ah ahh ohh ah ah ahh ohhh

Gm Bb Bbm

La la la lo oh ohh oh ohh

[Outro accordion light guitar]

F C/G

Gm Bb Bbm Dm

About The Legionnaires Lament Chords by The Decemberists

Learn how to play The Legionnaires Lament by The Decemberists with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Legionnaires Lament chords”, “The Legionnaires Lament guitar chords”, or “The Decemberists The Legionnaires Lament 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 Legionnaires Lament chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Legionnaires Lament lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Dm, F, F#, G, Gm, A.

FAQ — The Legionnaires Lament by The Decemberists

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The chords for "The Legionnaires Lament" show the original chord names (including Dm, F, F#, G, Gm, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.