Biography:
Michael Philip "Mike" Batt (born 6 February 1949, Southampton, England) is a British songwriter, musician, producer and Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry. He is best known for creating The Wombles pop act, writing the chart-topping "Bright Eyes," and discovering Katie Melua.
Batt began his career in pop music at the age of eighteen as a signed artist with Liberty Records, having answered the same advertisement as Elton John and Bernie Taupin placed by Ray Williams in the New Musical Express.
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[Verse 1]
Em Bm
The smoke was slowly rising as the light began to fade,
Am C
There were fires on the skyline from some distant border raid.
G D Am
And I was riding out at seventeen to join my first brigade
Em
Many years ago.
Am Em Am Em
And I chanced upon a farmhouse where the woman took me in,
C G Am Em
She gave me food and wine; she gave me shelter from the wind.
G D Am
She delayed me from my regiment, and service of my king
Em
Many years ago.
[Chorus]
She said:
G D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Em Am C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
G
She took me over
D
In the fading fire-glow,
Am Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
[Verse 2]
Em Bm
And when I rose next morning I was gone before she stirred,
Am C
I tore myself away from there and left without a word.
G D Am
The sound of distant infantry was the only thing I heard
Em
On that morning.
Am Em Am Em
And in that day I aged ten years and died a thousand deaths,
C G Am C
I learned the feel of frozen steel and fear within my breast.
G D Am
But the lesson I'll remember till they lay me to my rest
Em
Keeps returning.
[Chorus]
G D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Em Am C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
G
She took me over
D
In the fading fire-glow,
Am Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
[Verse 3]
Em Bm
And when the dice of war were thrown and victory was won,
Am C
My drunken young compatriots went out to have their fun.
G D Am
And there was no single house they did not burn or over-run,
Em
On that evening.
Am Em Am Em
So I rode out to that place again as hard as I could ride,
C G Am Em
But I found her by the trail along the lonely mountainside.
G D Am
In the hands of those brave friends of mine she suffered and she died,
Em
Many years ago.
[Outro]
G D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Em Am C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
G
She took me over
D
In the fading fire-glow,
Am Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
Em Bm
The smoke was slowly rising as the light began to fade,
Am C
There were fires on the skyline from some distant border raid.
G D Am
And I was riding out at seventeen to join my first brigade
Em
Many years ago.
Am Em Am Em
And I chanced upon a farmhouse where the woman took me in,
C G Am Em
She gave me food and wine; she gave me shelter from the wind.
G D Am
She delayed me from my regiment, and service of my king
Em
Many years ago.
[Chorus]
She said:
G D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Em Am C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
G
She took me over
D
In the fading fire-glow,
Am Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
[Verse 2]
Em Bm
And when I rose next morning I was gone before she stirred,
Am C
I tore myself away from there and left without a word.
G D Am
The sound of distant infantry was the only thing I heard
Em
On that morning.
Am Em Am Em
And in that day I aged ten years and died a thousand deaths,
C G Am C
I learned the feel of frozen steel and fear within my breast.
G D Am
But the lesson I'll remember till they lay me to my rest
Em
Keeps returning.
[Chorus]
G D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Em Am C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
G
She took me over
D
In the fading fire-glow,
Am Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
[Verse 3]
Em Bm
And when the dice of war were thrown and victory was won,
Am C
My drunken young compatriots went out to have their fun.
G D Am
And there was no single house they did not burn or over-run,
Em
On that evening.
Am Em Am Em
So I rode out to that place again as hard as I could ride,
C G Am Em
But I found her by the trail along the lonely mountainside.
G D Am
In the hands of those brave friends of mine she suffered and she died,
Em
Many years ago.
[Outro]
G D
"Soldier, before I lose you to the fight,
Em Am C
Oh my soldier, I'll make a man of you tonight."
G
She took me over
D
In the fading fire-glow,
Am Em
On that wild and misty night she was my woman.
Mike Bones
Mike Brady
Mike Butler
Mike Cavanaugh
Mike Chinn