The Battle
View chords used in this chart
Intro: C Em C Em
Am Em D Em C D C D
A Em A Em Am Em D Em
C Em C
Em
In the early dawn the Bishop's men
D Em
Shivered in the damp
D
But the shiver came not from the cold
C D
And spread throughout the camp
A Em
The trembling horses sensed the fear
A Em
Of silent thoughtful men
Am Em
Who prayed that wives and families
D Em C Em C
Might see them once again
Em
The Bishop sent a dawn patrol
D Em
To investigate the weight
D
Of forces at the King's command
C D
Ensconced behind the gate
A Em
The ground mist hid the patrol's approach
A Em
As they drew close enough to show
Am Em
The sentries on the battlements
D Em C Em C
And an archer drew his bow
Em
From the topmost tower a sentry fell
D Em
As an arrow pierced his skull
D
And his headlong flight into the moat
C D
Seemed that of a gull
A Em
The patrol reported little
A Em
There was nothing much to see
Am Em
But the strong and silent castle
D Em C Em C
A symbol of the free
N.C. Em
The King's men took communion
N.C. D N.C. Em
As the first rays of the sun
N.C. D N.C.
Lit up the chapel's gloomy walls
C D
The fatal day begun
A Em
From the castle green the rooks took flight
A Em
To the high trees in the east
Am Em
To their carrion minds the battlefield
D Em C Em C
Set a table for a feast
Em
A tide of black, the Bishop's men
D Em
Equality their right
D
Swarmed like ants across the hill
C D
Their aim at last in sight
A Em
The King's men dressed in purest white
A Em
Were driven back by force
Am Em
And the fighting grew more violent
D Em C Em C
As the battle took its course
Em
The Bishops gave the order
D Em
"No mercy to be shown.
D
The sacrifice will reap rewards
C D
When the King is overthrown"
A Em
The sight of children lying dead
A Em
Made hardened soldiers weep
Am Em
The outer walls began to fall
D Em C Em C
They moved towards the keep
Em
The rooks surveyed the battlefield
D Em
Their hungry beady eyes
D
Revelled in the sight of death
C D
Showing no surprise
A Em
The pressure mounted steadily
A Em
As the Bishops neared the gate
Am Em
And the desperate King called to his knights
D Em C Em C
"It's your lives or the state"
Em
When the anxious King began to fail
D Em
As many thought he might
D
The Queen ran screaming round the walls
C D
And urged the men to fight
A Em
The Bishops' men were tiring
A Em
As the afternoon grew late
Am Em
And the King's men lowered the drawbridge
D Em C Em C
And poured out through the gate
Em
They fought their way across the bridge
D Em
The men like falling leaves
D
Or ears of corn that fall in swathes
C D
The vicious sickle cleaves
A Em
The tide receded up the hill
A Em
The waste of reclaimed land
Am Em
Once decaying swamp became
D Em C Em C
A shore of pure white sand
Em
A blinded priest was seen to bless
D Em
Both dying and the dead
D
As he stumbled around the battlefield
C D
His cassock running red
A Em
If uniform were black or white
A Em
His eyes could never see
Am Em
And death made no distinction
D Em C Em C
Whatever man he be
Em
As darkness fell both camps withdrew
D Em
Their soldiers slain like cattle
D
Leaving the rooks to feast alone
C D
The victors of the battle
F#m Em
At evensong the camps reviewed
F#m Em
Their sad depleted ranks
D C
As survivors of the battle
Bm D A
Gave god their grateful thanks
How to play The Battle
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 C. 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.