[Intro]
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Em | D | C | D | Em | D
C | D | Em | D | C | D | Em | D
C | D
[Theme 1]
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Em | D | C | Em
D | C | Em
[Theme 2]
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Am | G | Em | F
Am | G | Em | F
[Theme 3]
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Em | D | C | D | Em | D | C | D
Em | D | C | D | Em | D
C | D
[Verse 1]
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Em
To ride the storm, to an empire of the clouds
D C
To ride the storm, they climbed aboard their silver ghost
Em
To ride the storm, to a kingdom that will come
D C Em
To ride the storm, and damn the rest, oblivion
[Chorus (1)]
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Am G
Royalty and dignitaries, brandy and cigars
Em F
Grey lady giant of the skies, you hold them in your arms
Am G
The millionth chance they laughed, to take down his majesty's craft
Em F
"To India," they say, "magic carpet float away," an October fateful day
[Interlude (1)]
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Em | D | C | Em | D | C
[Verse 2]
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Em Em
Mist is in the trees, stone sweats with the dew
D C Em
The morning sunrise, red before the blue
Hanging at the mast, waiting for command
D C Em
His majesty's airship, the R101
[Chorus (2)]
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Am G
She's the biggest vessel built by man, a giant of the skies
Em F
For all you unbelievers, the titanic fits inside
Am G
Drum roll tight, her canvas skin, silvered in the sun
Em F
Never tested with the fury, with the beating yet to come
The fury yet to comeâ¦
[Verse 3]
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Em
In the gathering gloom, the storm rising in the west
D C
The coxswain stared into the plunging weather glass
Em
We must go now, we must take our chance with fate
D C
We must go now, for a politician he can't be late
[Chorus (3)]
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Em Am G
The airship crew awake for thirty hours at full stretch,
Em F
But the ship is in their backbone, every sinew, every inch
Am G
She never flew at full speed, a trial never done
Em F
Her fragile outer cover, her Achilles would become
An Achilles yet to come...
[Verse 4]
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Em
Sailors of the sky, a hardened breed
D C
Loyal to the king, and an airship creed
Em
The engines drum, the telegraph sounds
D C Em
Release the cords that bind us to the ground
[Chorus (4)]
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Am G
Said the coxswain, "Sir, she's heavy, she'll never make this flight."
Em F
Said the captain, "Damn the cargo! We'll be on our way tonight."
Am G
Groundlings cheered in wonder, as she backed off from the mast
Em F
Baptizing them her water, from the ballast fore and aft
Now she slips into our pastâ¦
[Interlude (2)]
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Em | D | C | D | Em | D | C | D
Em | D | C | D | Em | D | C
D
[Theme 4]
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Bsus4 | Am | G | D7sus2
Em
[Theme 5]
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G | Em | C | G
Em | C | G | Am
Bm | C | Dm | Em
[Theme 6]
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Am | C | Em | C
Am | C | Em | C
Am | C | Em | C
Am | C | Em
[Theme 7]
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Em | Am | C | Em | C
Am | D | C | Em
C | Am | C | D | Em
C | Am | C | D | C
Em
[Solo 1]
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Em | C | Am | C | D
Em | C | Am | C | D
Em | C | Am | C | D
Em | C | Am | C | D
[Theme 8]
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Em | C | Am | C
D | Em | C | Am
C | D
[Theme 9]
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Em | Am | C | Em | C
Am | D | C | Em
C | Am | C | D | Em
C | Am | C | D | C
Em | Am | C | D
[Theme 10]
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Am | F | Dm | F
Am | F | Dm | F
[Solo 2]
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Am | F | Dm | F | G
Am | F | Dm | F | G
Am | F | Dm | F | G
Am | F | Dm | F | G
[Bridge 1]
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Em
Fighting the wind as it rolls you
C
Feeling the diesels that push you along
Am
Watching The Channel below you
C D
Lower and lower, into the night
Em
Lights are passing below you
C
Northern France, asleep in their beds
Am
Storm is raging around you
C D
A million to one, that's what he said
[Theme 11]
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Em | D | C | Em
Em | D | C | Em
[Bridge 2]
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Em
Reaper standing beside her
C
With his scythe cuts to the bone
Am
Panic to make a decision
C D
Experienced men, asleep in their graves
Em
Her cover is ripped and she's drowning
C
Rain is flooding into the hull
Am
Bleeding to death and she's falling
C D
Lifting gas is draining away
[Theme 12]
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Em | D | C | Em
[Theme 13]
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Fdim | Em | Fdim | Dm
Fdim | Em | Fdim | C
D | Fdim
[Chorus (5)]
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Am G
"We're down, lads!" came a cry, bow plunging from the sky
Em F
Three thousand horses silent as the ship began to die
Am G
The flares to guide her path ignited at the last
Em F
The empire of the clouds, just ashes in our past
Just ashes at the lastâ¦
[Interlude (3)]
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Em | D | C | D | Em | D | C | D
Em | D | C | D | Em | D | C | D
[Post-Chorus]
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Em D C D
Here lie their dreams as I stand in the sun
Em D C D
On the ground where they built, and the engines did run
Em D C D
To the moon and the stars, now what have we done?
Em D C D Em D C D
Oh the dreamers may die, but the dreams live on
Em D C D
Dreams live on
Em D C D Em D
Dreams live on
C | D
[Outro]
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Em D C Em
Now a shadow on a hill, the angel of the east
D C
The empire of the clouds may rest in peace
Em
And in a country churchyard, laid head to the mast
D C Em D C Em
Eight and forty souls, who came to die in Franceâ¦