Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner
View chords used in this chart
Am C F
Roland was a warrior from the Land of the Midnight Sun
F C G
With a Thompson gun for hire, fighting to be done
Am C F
The deal was made in Denmark on a dark and stormy day
F C G Am
So he set out for Biafra to j oin the bloody fray
Am C F
Through sixty-six and seven they fought the Congo war
F C G
Fingers on their triggers, knee-deep in gore
Am C F
For days and nights they battled the Bantu to their knees
F C G Am
They killed to earn their living and to h elp out the C ongolese
F C G Am
Roland the Thompson gunner...
F C G Am
Roland the Thompson gunner...
Am C F
His comrades fought b eside him - Van Owen and the rest
F C G
But of all the Thompson g unners Roland was the b est
Am C F
So the CIA dec ided they wanted Roland dead
F C G Am
That son-of-a-bitch Van Owen blew off Roland's head
Chorus: Harmony:
C G F Am
Roland the headless Thompson gunner (Time, time, time
D A For another peaceful war
Norway's bravest son But time stands still for
Roland
'Til he evens up the score)
G Am G C G F Am
They can still s ee his headless b ody s talking through the n ight
C G Am
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun
C G F Am
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun
Am C F
Roland searched the continent for the man who'd done him i n
F C G
He found him in Mombassa in a barroom drinking gin
Am C F
Roland aimed his Thompson gun - he didn't say a word
F C G Am
But he blew Van Owen's body from there to Johannesburg
F C G Am
Roland the headless Thompson gunner...
F C G Am
Roland the headless Thompson gunner...
F C G Am
Roland the headless Thompson gunner...
Am C F
The eternal Thompson gunner, still wandering through the night
F C G
Now it's ten years later but he still keeps up the fight
Am C F
In Ireland, in Lebanon, in Palestine and Berkeley
F F F
Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun
G Am
And bought it
How to play Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Am. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.