Dedication Day chords by Eric Bogle

Verse 1


G                 D                 C
August in Mildura, and winters on the run,

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there?s an early taste of springtime, in the warm mid-morning sun.

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As the men marched past from first to last, the crowds cheer everyone,

  Am                                                D       Am                 D               G
 and war seems somehow very far away, on this sunny dedication day.

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They marched to a memorial, built by and for their own,

G                        D                     C                               D
a simple wall of remembrance of brick and steel and stone.

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With the names inscribed of those that died and to those that had made it home,
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    G
 with a debt of love and honor to repay, had all gathered there on dedication day.


Chorus


G           D        C
It's dedication day,

G           D         C
It's dedication day.


Verse 2

G                                               D                        C
There was a concert held that evening me and others sang our songs,
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        D
while the boys drank beer and reminisced, laughed and clapped and sang along.

G                                              D                       C
As I was standing there with my guitar, just waiting to go on,
Am                                                                              D                      Am

                        D              G
 a man grabbed my arm and said please would you play a, song for my mate Hans this dedication day.


Verse 3

G                                    D                             C
He asked me to sing welcome home, and I saw tears in his eyes,

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 I knew there was a story there, but I did not want to pry.

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And then he said to me, I want that song you see, for this morning my mate died,
Am                                                                    D           Am

D             G
faced with his grief there was nothing I could say, so I sang for Hans on dedication day.


Chorus

G          D          C
It's dedication day

G          D          C
It's dedication day


(Piano solo)


Verse 4

G                                             D                   C
They say that Hans took his own life, but I don't know if that?s true,

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but if it is that?s no surprise, too many Vietnam vetrans do.

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Only those who were there, can know the despair and the pain that he went through,
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           G
for who can understand it more than they, those who knew the cost of dedication day

Verse 5

G                                             D                         C
Though that Asian wars long over, there still burying their dead

       G                                        D             C                       D
yet somehow the bond grows stronger, with each broken thread

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What poison stole and two hands sold to taint the years ahead
Am                                             D                       Am                           D

      G
In that war so long ago and far away until they died of wounds on dedication day.


G    D    C
G    D    C

Chorus


G          D         C
It's dedication day

G          D          C
It's dedication day

(Repeat until fade out)