What Is A Marine Chords

Lyrics & chords

[Verse 1]
[Am][D]
[G]Between the
security of childhood
and responsibilities of adulthood
comes [Am]the fascinating group [D]of humans
called [Am]Marines.[D]
They [Am]come in all sizes an
[A]d shapes and [D]uniforms,
and can usually be found on ships,
[G]in bunkers,
embassy duty,
in love, in bars, in jail, or in debt.
Towns tolerate them,
and the government pays them.
A Marine [Am]is a brave man
with a [D]tattooed arm,
[Am]deadly with a deck of card[D]s,
an occasional drinker[Am],
a defender of our country
with a play[D]boy pin -up in his pocket.
A [G]marine has the slyness of a fox,
the energy of a bull,
and the appetite of a bowery bum.
He dislikes answering questions or letters,
wearing a [Am]uniform,
the superior of[D]ficers, and rev[Am]elry.
[D]No one else can[Am] cram into his pockets
a church key,
[D]a crushed pack of camels,
a set of [G]chopsticks,
a cigarette lighter, a cone,
an autographed picture of his girl,
and a few cents from last week's pay.
Still, he wears his uniform
in a military manner
with cut -off sleeves
[Am]and a snack from barbed wire[D],
al[Am]ways keeping on the alert
[D]and observing every girl [Am]with
insight or hearing.
A Marine [D]likes to spend his money
on beer, whiskey, [G]cards, and women,
the rest he spends foolishly.
If he's not requesting special liberty,
he's demanding leave.
Upon denial of these things,
he will request [Am]a transfer.
[D]Only a marine can sit in
[Am]a muddy foxhole
with a can [D]of ham and lima
beans in [Am]his hand,
a soggy pack of C -rad cigarettes
[D]in his pocket,
rain pouring down,
and [G]still complain that he's not getting
enough [Bbm]benefits.[Eb]
[Ab]A marine is a magical creature.
You can take him off your mailing list,
but not out of your [Bbm]heart.
You can lock [Eb]him out of your house,
but not out [Bbm]of your mind.
[Eb]You might as well give u[Bbm]p.
He's your love away from home.
[Eb]A good -for -nothin' housewrecker.
But [Ab]all your heartaches are smoothed out
when he wanders home
and looks at you
with tired, bloodshot eyes
an[Bbm]d says to you, Hi, [Eb]Mom.
[Ab]I love you.