The Retreat chords by Elton John

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Key: F

Difficulty: Intermediate

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

          Bb                  F            G                C
They were drunk with home and mama as they brushed away the flies

      F                   C/E                Bb                F
In an instant before the sunrise they had gunned the rebels down

         Bb                 F                C            F
As their flags were torn at half mast in the ruins of the town

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

            Bb          F             G         C
There was a lack of ammunition so the cause was incomplete

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

Bb             F            C                  F
Signs of grand assurance were carried on the wind

Chorus:
        F    C/E         Dm   F/C          Bb  F
Take it home,    take it low, take responsibilities

Gm                         C  Bb  C
Came the message from the front

        F        C/E          Dm      F/C Bb     C/A
For the captains,    captains quarters    must retreat

         Gm7               C               Bb   F
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks

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

               Bb            F                   G                  C
They put their medals on the sideboards and they went back to their farms

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

     Bb                F                  C                  F
That God had saved the chosen few and the devil took the rest

Chorus:
        F    C/E         Dm   F/C          Bb  F
Take it home,    take it low, take responsibilities

Gm                             C  Bb C
Came the message from the front

        F        C/E          Dm      F/C Bb     C/A
For the captains,    captains quarters    must retreat

         Gm7               C               Bb   F
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks

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

          Bb                F               G               C
There's a haunted yell for action among the spectres of his troops

       F             C/E              Bb           F
It was silent on the coastline as the crazy angels danced

         Bb                   F                C            F
With the sound of retreating footfall from his military camp

Chorus:
        F    C/E         Dm   F/C          Bb  F
Take it home,    take it low, take responsibilities

Gm                             C  Bb  C
Came the message from the front

        F        C/E          Dm      F/C Bb     C/A
For the captains,    captains quarters    must retreat

         Gm7               C               Bb   F
Pack the compass, pack the tents, take the bunks