Banks Of The Nile chords by Sandy Denny

BANKS OF THE NILE
Sandy Denny

Dm  G        C        Am             Dm        C      Dm
Oh hark! the drums do beat, my love, no longer can we stay.
Dm        G         C        Am         G             Am
The bugle-horns are sounding clear, and we must march away.
Dm            G       C                    Am          G     Am
We're ordered down to Portsmouth, and it's many is the weary mile.
   Dm       G       C    Am     Dm    C      Dm
To join the British Army on the banks of the Nile.


Dm  G              C    Am       Dm       C       Dm
Oh Willie, dearest Willie, don't leave me here to mourn,
Dm         G            C       Am       G          Am
Don't make me curse and rue the day that ever I was born.
Dm      G       C                         Am      G       Am
For the parting of our love would be like parting with my life.
   Dm      G        C       Am        Dm     C       Dm
So stay at home, my dearest love, and I will be your wife.

Dm    G      C       Am          Dm        C     Dm
Oh my Nancy, dearest Nancy, sure that will never do.
Dm        G        C            Am     G        Am
The government has ordered, and we are bound to go.
Dm        G        C                Am        G     Am
The government has ordered, and the Queen she gives command.
    Dm   G        C        Am       Dm         C       Dm
And I am bound on oath, my love, to serve in a foreign land.


Dm  G        C          Am               Dm      C          Dm
Oh, but I'll cut off my yellow hair, and I'll go along with you.
Dm         G         C            Am       G     Am
I'll dress myself in uniform, and I'll see Egypt too.
Dm   G        C         Am           G             Am
I'll march beneath your banner while fortune it do smile,
    Dm    G       C   Am             Dm    C      Dm
And we'll comfort one another on the banks of the Nile.


Dm       G           C   Am                Dm           C       Dm
But your waist it is too slender, and your fingers they are too small.
Dm     G      C       Am         G                 Am
In the sultry suns of Egypt your rosy cheeks would spoil.
Dm        G            C  Am               G               Am
Where the cannons they do rattle, when the bullets they do fly,
    Dm         G        C        Am      Dm       C      Dm
And the silver trumpets sound so loud to hide the dismal cries.


Dm  G      C              Am         Dm   C    Dm
Oh, cursed be those cruel wars, that ever they began,
Dm            G          C          Am        G        Am
For they have robbed our country of manes the handsome men.
Dm             G         C     Am                G                    Am
They've robbed us of our sweethearts while their bodies they feed the lions,
       Dm      G     C       Am            Dm    C      Dm
On the dry and sandy deserts which are the banks of the Nile.