Warren Zevon - Roland The Headless Chords & Tabs

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Warren Zevon

Capo III (can be adjusted for your preferred key)

Verse 1
Em           G                                      Cadd9
Roland was a warrior, from the land of the midnight sun
                        G                    D
With a Thompson gun for hire, fighting to be done
Em                   G                            Cadd9
The deal was made in Denmark on a dark and stormy day
                    G        D               Em
So he set out for Biafra, to join the bloody fray

Verse 2 (same as V1)
Through '66-and-7, they fought the Congo war
With their fingers on their triggers, knee-deep in gore
For days and nights they battled the Bantu to their knees
They killed to earn their living, and to help out the Congolese

Chorus 1
Cadd9      G               D  Em
Roland the Thompson gunner (2x)

Verse 3
His comrades fought beside him, Van Owen and the rest
But of all the Thompson gunners, Roland was the best
So the CIA decided they wanted Roland dead
That son-of-a-bitch Van Owen blew off Roland's head
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/w/warren_zevon/roland_the_headless_crd_ver_2.html ]
Chorus 2
G          D                 Cadd9
Roland the headless Thompson gunner
G                D
Norway's bravest son
         Cadd9         G             Em                   Cadd9
They can still see his headless body stalking through the night
       G               D                 Em
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun
       G               D                 Cadd9  D  Em
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun

Verse 4
Roland searched the continent for the man who'd done him in
He found him in Mombassa, in a barroom drinking gin
Roland aimed his Thompson gun, he didn't say a word
But he blew Van Owen's body, from there to Johannesburg

Cadd9               G               D  Em
Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Cadd9               G               D  Em
Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Cadd9               G               D         Em
Roland the headless Thompson gunner (talkin' about the man)
Cadd9               G               D  Em
Roland the headless Thompson gunner

Em                   G                                Cadd9
The eternal Thompson gunner still wanders through the night
                   G                                D
Now it's ten years later, but he still keeps up the fight
   Em          G                         Cadd9
In Ireland, in Lebanon, in Palestine and Berkeley...
                                                  D
Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun
    Em
And bought it