Intro
G C G Em C G D G
[Verse]
G C G
Back in June 1940 so history books say
Em C G
a young suburban fellow named Ronald Wade
G C G
raised up his hand and enlisted his name
Em C G
to fight the good fight of the day
Em C B7 Em
the battalion moved north training next on the course
C G D
Wangaratta proud to call them their own
C D G Em
and they moved on together .. to camp Bonegilla
C D G
while the Strathmore was waiting at bay
[Interlude]
G C G Em C G D G
[Verse]
G C G
The battalion embarked and sailed off on their way
Em C G
bound for Tobruk, Guinea and El Alemain
G C G
and the souls of these brave men were never the same
Em C G
as they carried the wounded and slain
Em C B7 Em
and as shells pounded down with death felt all around
C G D
young Ronald's demeanour retained
C D G Em
and with drinks all around those boys painted the town
C D G
just to celebrate waking that day
[Interlude]
Em B7 C G B7 Em A D B7 Em C D G
G C G
And the rats wouldn't stray they kept fighting
G C D
and their spirits march on to this day
C D G Em
with the enemy scared every rat was prepared
C D G
to lay his life down for a mate
[Interlude]
G C G Em C G D G
[Verse]
G C G
The men charged on forward as battlefields raged \
Em C G
Rommel was stunned as they dug in again
G C G
they fought side by side but their fate was unchanged
Em C G
their chances were slipping away
Em C B7 Em
and the enemy's tanks blew but one man to hell
C G D
our mate Rover never would tell
C D G Em
the story of how he survived on that day
C D G
as he watched eight comrades as they fell
[Interlude]
Em B7 C G B7 Em A D B7 Em C D G
[Bridge]
Em B7
And the feeling of being marched into that camp
C G
was like being dragged down to hell
Em B7 C G
with a last swing of faith Ronald's chains were replaced
B B7 Em
with a gruelling crawl to friendly faces
C G
with a keener forehand and fine rhythm this man
B7 Em
made his way back to his homeland
C G
though the telegram said our mate Rover was dead
D7 C G
here stood that tough little bastard
[Verse]
C G
Cross the sea .. through the war
D7 C G
old mate is back on our shores
C G
things they'd seen .. fights they'd fought
D7 C G C G D7 C G
Rover out-roved the war
G C G
And the rats wouldn't stray they kept fighting
G C D
and their spirits march on to this day
C D G Em
now the good fight was won all those brave men were sung
C D G
as the heroes that helped save Australia