The Captains And The Kings lyrics and guitar chords

Written by Brendan Behan while having a satirical look at the British way of life. Ronnie Drew sure does this song justice. The guitar chords are courtesy of Marc Fahrbach

I re(G)member in Sep(C)tember when the (D7)final stumps were (G)drawn
And the shouts of crowds now (C)silent when the (D)boisterous cheer had (G)gone
Let (D)us O Lord a(A)bove us re(A7)member simple (D)things
When (G)all are dead to (C)love us, Oh, the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
When (G)all are dead to (C)love us, Oh, the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
 
We have (G)many goods for (C)export Christian (D7)ethics and old (G)port
But our greatest boast is (C)that the Anglo-(D)Saxon is a (G)sport
When the (D)dart's game is (A)finished and the (A7)boys there game of (D)rings
And the (G)draft and chests were (C)linghuised, Oh, the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
And the (G)draft and chests were (C)relinghuised, Oh, the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
 
Far a(G)way in dear old (C)Cyprus or in (D7)Kenya's dusty (G)land
Where all bear the white mans (C)burden in (D)many a strange (G)land
As we (D)looked across our (A)shoulder in West-(A7)Belfast the school-bell (D)rings
And we (G)sigh for dear old (C)England, and the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
And we (G)sigh for dear old (C)England, and the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
 
In our (G)dreams we see old (C)Harrow and we (D7)hear the crow's loud (G)caw
At the flower show our big (C)marrow take's the (D)pride from evilyn and (G)waugh
Cups of (D)tea and some dry (A)sherry vintage (A7)car's, these simple (D)things
So let's (G)drink up and be (C)merry for the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
So let's (G)drink up and be (C)merry for the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
 
As I (G)wandered in a (C)nightmare all a(D7)round great Windsor (G)Park
Now what do you think I (C)found there as I (D)wandered in the (G)dark?
'Twas an (D)apple half (A)bitten and (A7)sweetest of all (D)things
Five (G)baby teeth had (C)written of the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
Five (G)baby teeth had (C)written of the (D)captains and the (G)Kings
 
By the (G)moon that shine's a(C)bove us in the (D7)misty mornin' (G)night
Let us cease to run our(C)self down and praise (D)God that we are (G)white
And (D)lettuce still are (A)English, tea and (A7)toast and muffin (D)rings
And old (G)ladies with stained (C)faces and the (D)captains and the (G)kings

The Dubliners Playing Cards. Left is Barney McKenna Ronnie Drew In The Centre and Kieran Burke to the right

I remember in September when the final stumps were drawn
And the shouts of crowds now silent when the boisterous cheer had gone
Let us O Lord above us remember simple things
When all are dead to love us, Oh, the captains and the Kings
When all are dead to love us, Oh, the captains and the Kings
 
We have many goods for export Christian ethics and old port
But our greatest boast is that the Anglo-Saxon is a sport
When the dart's game is finished and the boys there game of rings
And the draft and chests were linghuised, Oh, the captains and the Kings
And the draft and chests were relinghuised, Oh, the captains and the Kings
 
Far away in dear old Cyprus or in Kenya's dusty land
Where all bear the white mans burden in many a strange land
As we looked across our shoulder in West-Belfast the school-bell (D)rings
And we sigh for dear old England, and the captains and the (G)Kings
And we sigh for dear old England, and the captains and the Kings
 
In our dreams we see old Harrow and we hear the crow's loud caw
At the flower show our big marrow take's the pride from evilyn and waugh
Cups of tea and some dry sherry vintage car's, these simple things
So let's drink up and be merry for the captains and the Kings
So let's drink up and be merry for the captains and the Kings
 
As I wandered in a nightmare all around great Windsor Park
Now what do you think I found there as I wandered in the dark?
'Twas an apple half bitten and sweetest of all things
Five baby teeth had written of the captains and the Kings
Five baby teeth had written of the captains and the Kings
 
By the moon that shine's above us in the misty mornin' night
Let us cease to run ourself down and praise God that we are white
And lettuce still are English, tea and toast and muffin rings
And old ladies with stained faces and the captains and the kings.

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