CALLING DOON THE LINES Lyrics And Guitar Chords

/THE PIPER’S CALL (Alan Brydon)
For original version by Alan Brydon in the key A# major use capo on 3rd fret
The Gsus4-chord (3-3-0-0-1-3) is optional and might be replaced by C. Guitar chords by Marc Fahrbach and a special request for John MacRae

Intro: G-D-C-G   G-D7-G-Gsus4-G   G-Gsus4-G
 
The (G)boys stood on the (Gsus4)platform(G)
In nineteen seven(D7)teen
(G)Waiting for a (D)train to (C)Salisbury (G)Plain
They were only (Am7)in their (D7)teens.
A (G)lad to his mother said ’(Gsus4)Dinnae (G)fret
We’ll be home by Christmas (D)day.’
And the (G)piper (D)played (C)Scotland the (G)Brave
As they waved the (D7)boys a(G)way -Gsus4-G G-Gsus4-G
 
Chorus
(G)Calling doon the line,
Calling (Em)doon the (C)line
And they (G)rallied (D7)roond to the (C)pipers (G)tune
(that was) Calling (D7)doon the (G)lines -Gsus4-G
 
Bridge: G-D-C-G   G-D7-G-Gsus4-G   G-Gsus4-G
 
The (G)Sergeant Major (Gsus4)pushed them (G)hard
They were trained in only (D7)days
For to (G)bear the (D)brunt of the (C)Western (G)front
They would soon be (Am7)on their (D7)way
So (G)off they marched, rifles (Gsus4)shoulder (G)high
And all at once they (D)sang
For (G)we’re no a(D)wa, tae (C)bide a(G)wa
Tae the pipers (D7)in the (G)band -Gsus4-G G-Gsus4-G
 
Chorus + Bridge
 
The (G)thunder echoed (Gsus4)through the (G)trench
As the shells abin them (D7)rained
And the (G)generals (D)spent a (C)thousand (G)men
For every (Am7)inch they (D7)gained
And the (G)brave young men faced their (Gsus4)battle (G)dawn
So proud to do their (D)jobs
And the (G)piper (D)stood in the (C)line of (G)fire
And played them (D)o’er the (G)top -Gsus4-G G-Gsus4-G
  
Chorus + Bridge
 
When (G)no man’s land fell (Gsus4)silent (G)
And they counted all the (D7)dead
The (G)victory (D)claimed would dis(C)guise the (G)shame
And nothing (Am7)more was (D7)said
And the (G)fallen brave on a (Gsus4)foreign (G)field
They gave their very (D)best
And the (G)piper (D)played a (C)sad la(G)ment
As they laid the (D7)boys to (G)rest -Gsus4-G G-Gsus4-G
 
Chorus twice
And they (G)rallied (D7)roond to the (C)pipers (G)tune
(that was) Calling (D7)doon the (G)lines -Gsus4-G

Here's another version of the chords in the key of D.

​
The (D)boys stood on the (Dsus4)platform(D)
In nineteen seven(A7)teen
(D)Waiting for a (A)train to (G)Salisbury (D)Plain
They were only (Em7)in their (A7)teens.
A (D)lad to his mother said ’(Dsus4)Dinnae (D)fret
We’ll be home by Christmas (A)day.’
And the (D)piper (A)played (G)Scotland the (D)Brave
As they waved the (A7)boys a(D)way -
 
Chorus
(D)Calling doon the line,
Calling (Bm)doon the (G)line
And they (D)rallied (A7)roond to the (G)pipers (D)tune
(that was) Calling (A7)doon the (D)lines