Johnny Cash - The Big Battle: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "The Big Battle" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

A
I think, sir, the battle is over;
                                    E7
And the young soldier lay down his gun.
I'm tired of running for cover;
                           A
I'm certain the battle is done.

      D                       A
O'er sea over there where we fought them
      E7                           A
It's quiet, for they've all gone away.
All left is the dead and the dyin',
     E7                        A
the blue lyin' long side the grave.

  So you think the battle is over
And you even lay down your gun
You carelessly rise from your cover
For you think the battle is done

Now boy hit the dirt, listen to me
For I'm still the one in command
Get flat on the ground here beside me
And lay your heart to the sand

Can you hear the deafening rumble
Can you feel the trembling ground
It's not just the horses and wagons
That make such a deafening sound

The fight yet to come's not with cannon
Nor will the fight be hand-to-hand
No one will regroup the forces
No charge will a general command

The battle will rage in the bosom
Of mother and sweetheart and wife
Brother and sister and daughter
Will grieve for the rest of their lives

Now go ahead, rise from your cover
Be thankful that God let you live
Go fight the rest of the battle
For those who gave all they could give

I see sir the battle's not over
The battle has only begun
The rest of this battle will cover
The part that has blackened the sun

For though there's no sound of the cannon
And though there's no smoke in the sky
I'm dropping the gun and the saber
And ready for battle am I

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Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

D

Guitar chord D

E7

Guitar chord E7

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "The Big Battle" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "The Big Battle" by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash Song List