Tuning: E A D G B E

BLOOD ON THE RISERS Sung in the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" [Verse 1]

He was j^Gust a rookie trooper and he s^G7urely shook with ^G7/Bfright, He ^Cchecked all his equipment and made ^Gsure his pack was ^D7tight; He h^Gad to sit and ^G7listen to those a^B7wful engines r^Emoar, "You ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump ^Dno ^Gmore!"

[Chorus]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

[Verse 2]

"Is ^Geverybody happy?" cried the ^G7Sergeant looking ^G7/Bup, Our H^Cero feebly answered "Yes," and t^Ghen they stood him ^D7up; He j^Gumped into the ^G7icy blast, his s^B7tatic line unh^Emooked, And he a^Amin't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore.

[Chorus]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

[Verse 3]

He c^Gounted long, he counted loud, he w^G7aited for the ^G7/Bshock, He f^Celt the wind, he felt the cold, he ^Gfelt the awful d^D7rop, The s^Gilk from his res^G7erves spilled out, and ^B7wrapped around his^Em legs, And he ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore.

[Chorus]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

[Verse 4]

The r^Gisers swung around his neck, conn^G7ectors cracked his ^G7/Bdome, Susp^Cension lines were tied in knots a^Ground his skinny ^D7bones; The ca^Gnopy bec^G7ame his shroud; he ^B7hurtled to the g^Emround And he ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore.

[Chorus]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

[Verse 5]

The d^Gays he'd lived and loved and laughed kept ^G7running through his^G7/B mind, He t^Chought about the girl back home, the ^Gone he'd left be^D7hind; He t^Ghought about the ^G7medics, and He w^B7ondered what they'd ^Emfind, And he ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore.

[Chorus]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

[Verse 6]

The ^Gambulance was on the spot, the j^G7eeps were running^G7/B wild, The m^Cedics jumped and screamed with glee, they ^Grolled their sleeves and ^D7smiled, For i^Gt had been a wee^G7k or more since l^B7ast a 'Chute had f^Emailed, And he a^Amin't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore.

[Chorus]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

[Verse 7]

He h^Git the ground, the sound was "SPLAT", his ^G7blood went spurting^G7/B high; His c^Comrades, they were heard to say "^GA HELL OF A WAY TO ^D7DIE!" He l^Gay there, rolling '^G7round in the ^B7welter of his ^Emgore, And he ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore.

[Chorus]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

[Verse 8, solemnly (half speed of other verses)]

There was ^Gblood upon the risers, there were ^G7brains upon the ^G7/Bchute, Int^Cestines were a-dangling from his ^Gparatroopers ^D7suit, He w^Gas a mess, they p^G7icked him up, and ^B7poured him from his ^Emboots, And he ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore.

[Chorus, solemnly (half speed of other verses)]

^GGory, gory, what a h^G7ell of a way to^G7/B die! G^Cory, go^C7ry, what a h^Gell of a way to^G7 die. ^GGory, g^G7/Fory, what a h^B7/D#ell of a way to ^Emdie, He ^Amain't gonna ^D4jump^D no ^Gmore!

Misc Traditional - Blood on the risers