Fires Of Calais chords by James Keelaghan

ARTIST: James Keelaghan
TITLE: The Fires of Calais
Lyrics

      G            Em          C              D
The fishing boats roll out across the dark green Channel water
       G            Em         C            D
As they gather speed for Flanders they cut their nets away
        G           Em            C           D
It's not herring they'll be pulling from the waters on this morning
         G          Em           C   D   G
But they'll reap a bitter harvest from the fires of Calais

Twenty leagues from France I saw the amber soaked horizon
In our lee the cliffs of Dover fall beneath the Channel waves
Where waters used to sing a song to soothe the hearts of fishers
Now we hear the rolling thunder from the fires of Calais

As we pull in tight to shore, this armada bent on rescue
I could curse the men behind the desks who sell our lives this way
I never signed aboard to save them from this bloody lack of planning
That strands these fine young men beneath the fires of Calais

       G           Em            C             D
On the beach allied confusion, will they stand or are they running
     G               Em             C          D
If it's run, where will they go to between the sea and the melee
       G              Em            C              D
On the flanks the troops advancing and with heavy guns they're firing
       G                                 C  D   G
And not a mother's son could save them from the fires of Calais

In scattered groups upon the shore some look towards a safer harbour
Some fix their eyes upon the flames that turn night to day
Some yet standing bold and ready to stoutly guard the rear from Jerry
They'll need no flares to see him 'neath the fires of Calais

I've fished these Channel waters since I was old enough to face them
For the herring and the flounder I have often hauled away
But a catch like this I’ve never had in forty years of sailing
Saving Tommies as they flounder 'neath the fires of Calais

The fishing boats roll out across the dark green Channel water