The Retreat chords by Elton John

Chords with lyrics

Tuning: Standard (E MajorE A augmentedA D MajorD G+G BB E MajorE)

Key: FF

Difficulty: Intermediate

Verse 1:
   FF        C/EC/E          Bb/DBb/D      FF
They laid beneath the pine trees with their caps over their eyes

     Bb majorBb         FF      G+G        C majorC
They were drunk with home and mama as they brushed away the flies

   FF          C/EC/E        Bb majorBb        FF
In an instant before the sunrise they had gunned the rebels down

     Bb majorBb         FF        C majorC      FF
As their flags were torn at half mast in the ruins of the town

Verse 2:
      FF         C/EC/E      Bb/DBb/D      FF
There were white sails on the water for the crippled on the beach

      Bb majorBb     FF       G+G     C majorC
There was a lack of ammunition so the cause was incomplete

     FF       C/EC/E         Bb majorBb          FF
When the bugle blew at breakfast and they knew their ships were in

Bb majorBb       FF      C majorC         FF
Signs of grand assurance were carried on the wind

Chorus:
    FF  C/EC/E     DmDm  F/CF/C     Bb majorBb FF
Take it home,  take it low, take responsibilities

G minorGm             C majorC Bb majorBb C majorC
Came the message from the front

    FF    C/EC/E     DmDm   F/CF/C Bb majorBb   C/AC/A
For the captains,  captains quarters  must retreat

     Gm7Gm7        C majorC        Bb majorBb  FF
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks

Verse 3:
     FF          C/EC/E       Bb majorBb      F/CF/C
They just chalked it down in history but they kept their uniforms

        Bb majorBb      FF          G+G         C majorC
They put their medals on the sideboards and they went back to their farms

      FF       C/EC/E       Bb majorBb        FF
For it was just a mere reminder that they stood beside the best

   Bb majorBb        FF         C majorC         FF
That God had saved the chosen few and the devil took the rest

Chorus:
    FF  C/EC/E     DmDm  F/CF/C     Bb majorBb FF
Take it home,  take it low, take responsibilities

G minorGm               C majorC Bb majorBb C majorC
Came the message from the front

    FF    C/EC/E     DmDm   F/CF/C Bb majorBb   C/AC/A
For the captains,  captains quarters  must retreat

     Gm7Gm7        C majorC        Bb majorBb  FF
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks

Verse 4:
    FF        C/EC/E         Bb/DBb/D       FF
On the planes above the rock face where the sculptured eagles swoop

     Bb majorBb        FF        G+G        C majorC
There's a haunted yell for action among the spectres of his troops

    FF       C/EC/E       Bb majorBb      FF
It was silent on the coastline as the crazy angels danced

     Bb majorBb          FF        C majorC      FF
With the sound of retreating footfall from his military camp

Chorus:
    FF  C/EC/E     DmDm  F/CF/C     Bb majorBb FF
Take it home,  take it low, take responsibilities

G minorGm               C majorC Bb majorBb C majorC
Came the message from the front

    FF    C/EC/E     DmDm   F/CF/C Bb majorBb   C/AC/A
For the captains,  captains quarters  must retreat

     Gm7Gm7        C majorC        Bb majorBb  FF
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks