CAPO: 5th Fret INTRO: C F Em G C F Em G C Em F G The fishing boats rolled out across the dark green channel water C Em F G As they gather speed for Flanders, they cut their nets away C Em F G It's not herring they'll be pulling from the waters on this morning C Em F C But they'll reap a bitter harvest from the fires of Calais INTERLUDE: C F Em G C F Em G C Em F G Twenty leagues from France I saw the amber soaked horizon C Em F G In our lee the cliffs of Dover fall beneath the channel waves C Em F G Where waters used to sing a song to soothe the hearts of fishers C Em F C Now we hear the rolling thunder from the fires of Calais INTERLUDE: C F Em G C F Em G C Em F G As we pull in tight to shore, this armada bent on rescue C Em F G I could curse the men behind the desks who sell our lives this way C Em F G I never signed aboard to save them from this bloody lack of planning C Em F C That strands these fine young men beneath the fires of Calais INTERLUDE: C F Em G C F Em G C Em F G On the beach allied confusion, will they stand or are they running C Em F G If it's run, where will they go to between the sea and the melee C Em F G On the flanks the troops advancing and with heavy guns they're firing C Em F C And not a mother's son could save them from the fires of Calais INTERLUDE: C F Em G C F Em G C Em F G In scattered groups upon the shore, some look towards a safer harbour C Em F G Some fix their eyes upon the flames that turn night to day C Em F G Some yet standing bold and ready to stoutly guard the rear from Jerry C Em F C They'll need no flares to see him 'neath the fires of Calais INTERLUDE: C F Em G C F Em G C Em F G I've fished these channel waters since I was man enough to face them C Em F G For the herring and the flounder I have often hauled away C Em F G But a catch like this I've never had in forty years of sailing C Em F C Saving Tommies as they flounder 'neath the fires of Calais INTERLUDE: C F Em G C F Em G C Em F G The fishing boats rolled out across the dark green channel water C Em F G As they gather speed for Flanders, they cut their nets away C Em F G It's not herring they'll be pulling from the waters on this morning C Em F C They'll reap a bitter harvest from the fires of Calais OUTRO: C F Em G C F Em G C F Em G C F Em G C