Intro (acapella):

      He blesses the boys as they stand in line
      They smell of gun grease  and their bayonets they shine
      He's there to help them all that he can
      To make them feel wanted, he's a good holy man

      [band enters]

      bass:

       F
       v       v       v       v         v       v       v       v
      8h10----8h10----8h10----8h10----- | -----8-----------8-------10------
      --------------------------------- | -8-10--------8-10----------------
      --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------
      --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------
      (man)

Chorus:

       Bb    Eb  Bb 
      Sky... pilot
       Bb    Eb  Bb 
      Sky... pilot
      Cm                  Bb
         How high can you fly
             Cm                              Bb
      You'll never (never) (never) reach the sky

Verse 1:

          Cm                                  Eb
      He smiles at the young soldiers, tells them it's all right
          Cm                         Eb
      He knows of their fear in the forthcoming flight
       Cm                         Eb
      Soon there'll be blood and many will die
       Cm                       F
      Mothers and fathers back home they will cry

[repeat chorus]

Verse 2:

      He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile
      The order is given, they move down the line
      But he stay'll [sic] behind and he'll meditate
      But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate

Verse 3:

      And the young men move out into the battle zone
      He feels good, with God you're never alone
      He feels so tired and he lays on his bed
      Hopes the men will find courage in the words that he said

[repeat chorus]

Interlude:

      2:49  twin guitar solo over Bb
      3:10  sound effects enter
      3:56  bagpipes enter, guitars fade
      5:01  bagpipes and effects fade; acoustic guitar and bass enter

      Eb                [4X; strings enter 3rd time]
      / / / /  / / / / 

Verse 4:

      You're soldiers of God, you must understand
      The fate of your country is in your young hands
      May God give you strength, do your job real well
      If it all was worth it, only time it will tell

Verse 5:

      In the morning they returned  with tears in their eyes
      The stench of death drifts up to the skies
      A young soldier so ill  looks at the Sky Pilot
      Remembers the words, "Thou shalt not kill"

[repeat chorus, 2X]

Coda [repeat to fade]:

              Cm            Eb               Bb
      You'll never (never) (never) reach the sky


-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers