Over the Top
by @berni1954
Skirmish: Over the top (@lyricslinger)Liner Notes
As a history buff, I went for the obvious on this one:
WWI the most senseless war in history. No real winners, whole generations of men slaughtered for nothing. It wasn't even as if either side were fighting for an ideology, as would be the case in WWII it was simply a clash of Empires and the middle and working class men who fought it would gain nothing from it, whoever won.
INSTRUMENTS:
Harley Benton "Rickenbacker Electric 12 String Copy"
KORG R3 Synthesizer
Backing by Band in a Box
#biab #bandinabox
Lyrics
(G) They waited in the (Eb) trenches, hearts (F) beating with (G) fear
This was the promised (Eb) push; the (F) moment was (G) here
The (Bb) roar of canons (F) pounding the (Bb) enemy (F) trench
(Eb) Deafened the men (F) waiting, a(G)mid the muddy stench
(C) Over the (Bb) top!
That (C) cry would soon (Bb) come
(C) Over the (Bb) top!
This (F) war must be won!
(Gm) Over the (Dm) top!
They (Gm) waited there in (Dm) dread
(Eb) Knowing very (F) soon (G) many would be dead
Fleas and rats, up to that point, had been the only enemy
They'd had in their dugouts, fortunately
But now these young recruits faced the real thing
They had to kill or die for their country and King
CHORUS
BRIDGE
(Dm) What a senseless war for some (Eb) Empire's pride"
(Dm) What was it all for? (Eb) Why had millions died?
It (F) wasn't even a clash of (Gm) ideologies
(Eb) That's what filled these (F) lads' hearts with un(G) ease
Gas masks at the ready, up the ladders they climbed
Crossing themselves as distant church bells chimed
The order came and it must be obeyed
War wasn't the dreamy ideal school had portrayed.
Over the top!
That cry soon came
Over the top!
Play up and play the game!
Over the top!
Machine guns drew first blood
And half of the battalion, lay face down in the mud.
Comments
Just a note to say I have put the full demo (with music) up for my song "Over the Top" about the First World War.
Hope you get a moment to check it out.