Sopwith Camel

Intro
Bm 
Hmmm----they said the Camel was a wild thing, 
D 
Too much hand and she'd throw you 
                            A 
Too little nerve, and she'd own you. 
                                                                Bm 
But ride her true, and there was nothing in the sky could dance beside her. 



[Verso 1]
 
Bm 
There's a little bird out of Kingston way 
                        D 
With canvas wings and a heart for play 
                             A 
She'll buck and kick if your hand ain't true, 
                                  Bm 
But she'll dance like fire in the morning blue 

From fields below to the clouds on high, 
                   D 
She'll climb where only the brave will fly 
       A 
With a rotary song and a devilish turn 
       Bm 
She'll make careless pilots burn 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bm 
Sopwith Camel, wild and free, 
              D 
She'll kill a fool in every degree 
          A 
In proper hands, all would agree, 
                    Bm 
She's the deadliest thing you'll ever see 

Sopwith Camel, climb on high, 
         D 
Iron and canvas in a clear blue sky 
         A 
Rein her right and let her sing, 
          F#                 Bm 
She's the queen of the war machine 
 


[Verso 2]
 
Bm 
He had mud on his boots from the old trench lines, 
         D 
Seen the troops break under smoke and mines 
       A 
But he left the mire for the cold blue skies 
    Bm 
and chose a machine with a will to fly 

High over Ypres in the morning sunshine 
   D 
He led five Camels in a proper line 
   A 
As German DFW's came into view, 
Bm 
Albatros shadows were above them too 
 


[Verso 3]
 
Bm 
Down through the blue of the early morning light, 
D 
Thumbs on the trigger, eyes on the sight 
  A 
A flash from below, then guns replied 
        Bm 
And his Sopwith awoke and banked to the right 

Roll her left, lean her right 
D 
Back through the clouds and out of sight 
A 
Splinters flew but the Camel sang true 
        Bm 
And the cockpit shook as the Vickers cried 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bm 
Rat-ah-tat-tat Sopwith Camel, wild and free, 
              D 
She'll kill a fool in every degree 
          A 
In proper hands all would agree, 
                    Bm 
She's the deadliest thing you'll ever see 

Sopwith Camel, way on high, 
         D 
Iron and canvas in a clear blue sky 
         A 
Rein her right and let her sing, 
          F#   D               Bm 
She's the majesty of the war machine!  


{Instrumental} 
Bm  Bm  D  D  A   A   Bm 



[Verso 4]
 
Bm 
So raise a cheer for the flying few 
            D 
With steady hands and hearts so true 
              A                      
They rode her high through fire and flame 
                Bm 
And brought the Camel to lasting fame 

From dawn patrol to the evening sun, 
    D 
She kicked and climbed for everyone 
              A 
But in proper hands with a daring smile, 
         F#                     Bm 
That old Sopwith could dance in style 
 


[Refrão]
 
Bm 
Sopwith Camel, wild and free, 
              D 
She'll kill a fool in every degree 
          A 
In proper hands, all would agree, 
                    Bm 
She's the deadliest thing you'll ever see 

Sopwith Camel, climb on high, 
         D 
Iron and canvas in a clear blue sky 
         A 
Rein her right and let her sing, 
          F#                 Bm 
She's the queen of the war machine 
 

Outro 
D       A                      Bm 
She was no machine for the careless 
Bm               Bm 
Hmmmm  Hmmmmmmm