Gordon Lightfoot - The Patriots Dream

the patriot’s dream by gordon lightfoot

verse 1 :
G C
the songs of the wars are as old as the hills
G A D
they cling like the rust on the cold steel that kills
G Em C
they tell of the boys who went down to the tracks
D C G
in a patriotic manner with the cold steel on their backs

verse 2 :
the patriot’s dream is as old as the sky
it lives in the lust of a cold callous lie
let’s drink to the men who got caught by the chill
of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills

instrumental ( same as verse )

verse 3 :
the train pulled away on that glorious night
the drummer got drunk and the bugler got tight
while the boys in the back sang a song of good cheer
while riding off to glory in the spring of their years

verse 4 :
the patriot’s dream still lives on today
it makes mothers weep and it makes lovers pray
let’s drink to the men who got caught by the chill
of the patriotic fever and the cold steel that kills

( on 6th string strum/pluck notes G – F# – E while slowing tempo )

verse 5 :
Em G D Em G D Em
well there was a sad , sad lady , weeping all night long
G D Em G D Em
she received a sad , sad message , from a voice on the telephone
G D Em G D Em
her children were all sleeping , as she waited out the dawn
G D Em G D G Em
how could she tell those children , that their father was shot down
G D Em G D Em
so she took them to her side that day , and she told them one by one
G D Em D G Em
your father was a good man ten – thousand miles from home
Am D G Cmaj7
he tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell
Am D G Cmaj7 Am
he might be in some prison , i hope he’s treated well

verse 6 : ( same chords as verse 5 )
well there was a young girl watching in the early afternoon
when she heard the name of someone who said he’d be home soon
and she wondered how they got him , but the papers did not tell
there would be no sweet reunion , there would be no wedding bells
so she took herself into her room and she turned the bed sheets down
and she cried into the silken folds of her new wedding gown
he tried to do his duty and it took him straight to hell
he might be in some prison , i hope he’s treated well

verse 7 : ( same chords as verse 5 )
well there was an old man sitting in his mansion on the hill
and he thought of his good fortune and the time he’d yet to kill
well he called to his wife one day , “come sit with me awhile”
then turning toward the sunset , he smiled a wicked smile
“well i’d like to say i’m sorry for the sinful deeds i’ve done
but let me first remind you , i’m a patriotic son”
they tried to do their duty and it took ’em straight to hell
they might be in some prison , i hope they’re treated well

repeat verses 1 , 3 & 4