Mike Harding - The accrington pals

^Bb Smoky town where ^Ebthey were ^Bbborn, ^BbDown in the valley, ^Ebsmoky little ^Fstreets; ^Bb They were pals from ^Ebchildhood ^Bbdays ^EbClimbing trees and ^Cmrunning through the ^Ffields And they ^Bball played tog^Ebether Through the ^Fturning of the ^Bbyears, ^BbSharing their laughter, ^Cmsharing all their ^Ffears. The ^Ebseasons saw them growing, oh The seasons ^Bbpassing turned them ^Fround Through the^Bb turning, ^Ebturning, ^Bbturning ^Ebyears, ^F The Accrington ^BbPals. ^{Eb Bb}

^Bb Schooldays end, the ^Eblads all ^Bbwent To ^Bbwork, some ^Ebspinning, some ^Fweaving in the sheds, ^Bb On the land or ^Ebdown the ^Bbpit, ^BbWorking hard to ^Ebearn their daily ^Fbread. And they ^Bball went ^Ebwalking up old ^FPendle ^BbHill ^BbOn Sundays, the larks sang ^Cmhigh above the d^Fale, Li^Ebttle Willie Riley Played his ^Bbmandolin and ^Fsang. They were ^Bblaughing, ^Eb they were ^Bbsinging ^Ebthen, ^F The Accrington ^BbPals. ^{Eb Bb}

^Bb 1916 ^Ebcame the ^Bbcall: We ^Bbneed more lads to ^Ebbattle with the ^FHun, ^Bb Lads of Lancashire, ^Ebheed the ^Bbcall; With ^EbGod on our side the battle will soon be ^Fwon So they ^Bball came m^Ebarching to the ^Fbeating of the ^Bbdrums ^BbDown from the ^Ebfields and ^Ffactories they’d ^Bbcome, ^BbSmiling at the ^Ebgirls who Came to ^Bbsee them on their ^Fway. They were ^Bbmarching, ^Ebmarching, ^Bbmarching ^Ebaway, ^F The Accrington ^BbPals ^{Eb Bb}

^Bb Blue skies shining on that ^Ebperfect ^Bbday, A ^Bblark was singing ^Ebhigh above the ^FSomme; ^Bb Brothers, pals and ^Ebfathers ^Bblay ^EbWatching that sweet bird sing in the quiet of the ^Fdawn Then they ^Bball went ^Ebwalking out Tow^Fards the howling ^Bbguns, ^BbTalking and ^Eblaughing, ^Cmcalmly walking ^Fon, Bel^Ebieving in the lies that Left them ^Bbdying in the ^Fmud; And they’re ^Bblying, ^Eblying, ^Bblying ^Ebstill, ^F The Accrington ^BbPals ^{Eb Bb}

^Bb Smoky town that ^Ebheard the ^Bbnews ^BbDown in the valley, ^Ebsmoky little ^Fstreets; ^Bb Houses quiet and ^Ebcurtains ^Bbpulled All ^Ebround the town, a ^Bbsilent shroud of ^Fgrief. And the ^Bblarks were ^Ebsinging still a^Fbove Old Pendle ^BbHill, The ^Ebwind was in the ^Bbbracken, The ^Fsun was shining ^Bbstill, And the ^Eblarks were singing sweetly as The evening ^Bbfell upon the ^FSomme On Edward ^BbParkinson Bobby ^EbHenderson Billie ^BbClegg Johnny Moll^Eboy Norman Jo^Bbnes Albert B^Eberry Willie R^Bbiley, ^{Eb F} The Accrington ^BbPals