The Men They Couldn't Hang - The Green fields of France
This song has been covered over and over, each version seems to be different (different keys, different
lyrics, different chords). In my opinion this is the best version and falls into the rare catogary of
'better than the original'. Anyway, I think it works although it may not be 100% correct, feel free to
comment, correct rate etc, any improvements would be more than welcome
Intro G
Verse 1
G G C Am
Well how do you do now young Willie McBride
D D C G
Do you mind if I sit down beside your graveside
G G C Am
And rest for a while 'neath warm summer sun
D D C G
I've been walking all day and I'm nearly done
G G C Am
Well I see by your gravestone you was only nineteen
D D C G
When you joined the great fallen of 1916
G G C Am
Well I hope you died well and I hope you died clean
D D C G
Or Willie McBride was it slow and obscene
Chorus
Am C G
Did they beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Am C D
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
G C
Did the band sound the last post and chorus
G D G
Did they pipe the flowers of the forest
Verse 2
G G C Am
Did you leave a young wife or a sweetheart behind
D D C G
In some faithful heart are your memories enshrined
G G C Am
For although you died back in 1916
D D C G
In that faithful heart you're forever nineteen
G G C Am
Or are you a stranger without even a name
D D C G
Enclosed forever behind a glass frame
G G C Am
In an old photograph torn, battered and stained
D D C G
Faded to yellow with brown leather frame
Chorus
Am C G
Did they beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Am C D
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
G C
Did the band sound the last post and chorus
G D G
Did they pipe the flowers of the forest
Verse 3
G G C Am
As the sun beats down on the green fields of France
D D C G
There's a soft summer breeze makes the red poppies dance
G G C Am
And see how the sun shines from under the clouds
D D C G
There's no gas, there's no barbed wire no guns firing now
G G C Am
Oh but here in this graveyard it's still no man's Land
D D C G
The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand
G G C Am
And through mans blind indifference to his fellow man
D D C G
To a whole generation who were butchered and damned
Chorus
Am C G
Did they beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Am C D
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
G C
Did the band sound the last post and chorus
G D G
Did they pipe the flowers of the forest
Verse 4
G G C Am
Now Willie McBride I can't help wonder why
D D C G
Do those that lie here know why did they die
G G C Am
And did they believe when they answered the call
D D C G
Did they really believe that this war could end wars
G G C Am
Oh the sorrow, the suffering, the glory, the pain
D D C G
The killing and dying t'was all done in vain
G G C Am
For young Willie McBride oh it happened again
D D C G
And again, and again, and again, and again
Chorus
Am C G
Did they beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Am C D
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
G C
Did the band sound the last post and chorus
G D G
Did they pipe the flowers of the forest
