Jean Desprez

D D E E G G D Dsus D D E Oh, ye whose hearts are resonant, and ring to War's romance E G A D Dsus2 D Hear ye the story of a boy, a peasant boy of France D E A lad uncouth and warped with toil, yet who, when trial came E G A D Could feel within his soul upleap and soar the sacred flame; D E Could stand upright, and scorn and smite, as only heroes may: E G A D Dsus2 D Dsus2 D Oh, hearken! Let me try to tell the tale of Jean Desprez D E With fire and sword the Teuton horde was ravaging the land E G D And there was darkness and despair, grim death on every hand; D E Red fields of slaughter sloping down to ruin's black abyss; E G A D The wolves of war ran evil-fanged, and little did they miss D E And on they came with fear and flame, to burn and loot and slay E G D G D Dsus D Until they reached the red-roofed croft, the home of Jean Desprez D E "Rout out the village one and all!" the Uhlan Captain said E G D "Behold! Some hand has fired a shot. My trumpeter is dead D E Now shall they Prussian vengeance know; now shall they rue the day E G A D G D For by this sacred German slain, ten of these dogs shall pay." D E They drove the cowering peasants forth, women and babes and men E G A D And from the last, with many a jeer the Captain chose he ten D G D Ten simple peasants, bowed with toil, they stood, they knew not why E D G D Against the grey wall of the church, hearing their children cry; G D Hearing their wives and mothers wail, with faces dazed they stood E G D A moment only ... Ready! Fire! They weltered in their blood D D E E G A D G D Dsus D D D E But there was one who gazed unseen, who heard the frenzied cries E A D G D Who saw these men in sabots fall before their children's eyes; D E A Zouave wounded in a ditch, and knowing death was nigh E G A D Dsus D He laughed with joy: "Ah! here is where I settle ere I die." D E He clutched his rifle once again, and long he aimed and well ... E G A D G D Dsus D A shot! Beside his victims ten the Uhlan Captain fell D E They dragged the wounded Zouave out; their rage was like a flame E G A D G D With bayonets they pinned him down, until their Major came D G D A blond, full-blooded man he was, and arrogant of eye; D E D G D He stared to see with shattered skull his favorite Captain lie D G D "Nay do not finish him so quick, this foreign swine," he cried; D E G D G D "Go nail him to the big church door: he shall be crucified." G G D D E G D Dsus D E D E With bayonets through hands and feet they nailed the Zouave there E G A D G D And there was anguish in his eyes, and horror in his stare; G D "Water! A single drop!" he moaned, but how they jeered at him E A D G D And mocked him with an empty cup, and saw his sight grow dim; D G D A D And as in agony of death with blood his lips were wet D E G D G D Dsus D The Prussian Major gaily laughed, and lit a cigarette D E But mid the white-faced villagers who cowered in horror by D E G D G D Was one who saw the woeful sight, who heard the woeful cry: G D G D "Water! One little drop, I beg! For love of Christ who died ..." D E D G D It was the little Jean Desprez who turned and stole aside; D E It was the little barefoot boy who came with cup abrim E G D G D And walked up to the dying man, and gave the drink to him D E A roar of rage! They seize the boy; they tear him fast away E G D G D The Prussian Major swings around; no longer is he gay D E His teeth are wolfishly agleam; his face all dark with spite: E G A D G D "Go shoot the brat," he snarls, "that dare defy our Prussian might D E Yet stay! I have another thought. I'll kindly be, and spare; E G A D G D Quick! give the lad a rifle charged, and set him squarely there D E D And bid him shoot, and shoot to k**l. Haste! make him understand E G D G D The dying dog he fain would save shall perish by his hand D G D G D And all his kindred they shall see, and all shall curse his name E G D G D D Dsus2 D Dsus2 D Who bought his life at such a cost, the price of death and shame." D E They brought the boy, wild-eyed with fear; they made him understand; E G A D G D They stood him by the dying man, a rifle in his hand D E "Make haste!" said they, "the time is short, and you must k**l or die." E G D G D The Major puffed his cigarette, amusement in his eye E G D And then the dying Zouave heard, and raised his weary head: E G D G D "Shoot, son, 'twill be the best for both; shoot swift and straight," he said D G D G D "Fire first and last, and do not flinch; for lost of hope am I; D E G D G D D Dsus2 D And I will murmur: Vive La France! and bless you ere I die." D E Half-blind with blows the boy stood there, he seemed to swoon and sway; E G A D G D Then in that moment woke the soul of little Jean Desprez D E He saw the woods go sheening down, the larks were singing clear; E G A D G D And oh! the scents and sounds of spring, how sweet they were! how dear! D G D G D He felt the scent of new mown hay, a soft breeze fanned his brow; E G D G D O God! the paths of peace and toil! How precious were they now G D G D The summer days and summer ways, how bright with hope and bliss! E G D G D The autumn such a dream of gold ... and all must stand in this: D E This shining rifle in his hand, that shambles all around; E G D G D The Zouave there with a dying glare; the blood upon the ground; D G D G D The brutal faces round him ringed, the evil eyes aflame; D E G D G D That Prussian bully standing by, as if he watched a game D G D "Make haste and shoot," the Major sneered; "a minute more I give; D E G D G D A minute more to k**l your friend, if you yourself would live." G G D Dsus2 D Dsus2 D G G A Asus A Asus A A Verse 11 D E They only saw a bare-foot boy, with blanched and twitching face; E G D G D They did not see within his eyes the glory of his race; D The glory of a million men who for fair France have died G A D G D The splendor of self-sacrifice that will not be denied G D Yet ... he was but a peasant lad, and oh! but life was sweet ... E G D G D "Your minute's nearly gone, my lad," he heard a voice repeat G D "Shoot! Shoot!" the dying Zouave moaned; "Shoot! Shoot!" the soldiers said D E G D G D D Dsus2 D Dsus2 D Then Jean Desprez reached out and shot ... the Prussian Major dead!