John The Gun chords by Sandy Denny

John the Gun
by Sandy Denny
From 'The North Star Grassman and the Ravens" (1971)

Capo III (Cm)
(Please note this is not the original arrangement;
I rearranged it to suit the limited skills
of a camp fire player like myself)

Am                   C                       Am
My shadow follows me wherever I should chance to go
 C        G       Am
John the Gun did say
    Am                                 C             Am
If you should chance to meet me, as I wander to and fro
 C       G        Am
Sad will be your day

My life is mine and the light did shine,
till the guns shot right through me
So now I shall never fall
Ideals of peace are gold which fools
have found upon the plains of war
I shall destroy them all

(Chorus)
 Dm            C
Put away your guns of steel
       Dm                 C
Death comes too soon for all
      F              C             Em
Your master he will need you soon
     G                 Am
And you will heed his call

I am the master of the game
That you will hardly ever play
So I will teach your sons
And if they should die
Before the evening of their span of days
Why, then they will die young

(Chorus)

Condemn me not
For always have I played the game of war
In moonshine or in sun
And if any cross the path I choose to tread
Their chances they are poor
For I am John the Gun

(Chorus)