August in Mildura, and winters on the run,
G D C D
there?s an early taste of springtime, in the warm mid-morning sun.
G D C
As the men marched past from first to last, the crowds cheer everyone,
Am D Am D G
and war seems somehow very far away, on this sunny dedication day.
G D C
They marched to a memorial, built by and for their own,
G D C D
a simple wall of remembrance of brick and steel and stone.
G D C
With the names inscribed of those that died and to those that had made it home,
Am D Am D
G
with a debt of love and honor to repay, had all gathered there on dedication day.
Chorus
G D C
It?s dedication day,
G D C
It?s dedication day.
Verse 2
G D C
There was a concert held that evening me and others sang our songs,
G D C
D
while the boys drank beer and reminisced, laughed and clapped and sang along.
G D C
As I was standing there with my guitar, just waiting to go on,
Am D Am
D G
a man grabbed my arm and said please would you play a, song for my mate Hans this dedication day.
Verse 3
G D C
He asked me to sing welcome home, and I saw tears in his eyes,
G D C D
I knew there was a story there, but I did not want to pry.
G D C
And then he said to me, I want that song you see, for this morning my mate died,
Am D Am
D G
faced with his grief there was nothing I could say, so I sang for Hans on dedication day.
Chorus
G D C
It?s dedication day
G D C
It?s dedication day
(Piano solo)
Verse 4
G D C
They say that Hans took his own life, but I don?t know if that?s true,
G D C D
but if it is that?s no surprise, too many Vietnam vetrans do.
G D C
Only those who were there, can know the despair and the pain that he went through,
Am D Am
G
for who can understand it more than they, those who knew the cost of dedication day
Verse 5
G D C
Though that Asian wars long over, there still burying their dead
G D C D
yet somehow the bond grows stronger, with each broken thread
G D C
What poison stole and two hands sold to taint the years ahead
Am D Am D
G
In that war so long ago and far away until they died of wounds on dedication day.
G D C
G D C
Chorus
G D C
It's dedication day
G D C
It's dedication day
(Repeat until fade out)
G D C D
there?s an early taste of springtime, in the warm mid-morning sun.
G D C
As the men marched past from first to last, the crowds cheer everyone,
Am D Am D G
and war seems somehow very far away, on this sunny dedication day.
G D C
They marched to a memorial, built by and for their own,
G D C D
a simple wall of remembrance of brick and steel and stone.
G D C
With the names inscribed of those that died and to those that had made it home,
Am D Am D
G
with a debt of love and honor to repay, had all gathered there on dedication day.
Chorus
G D C
It?s dedication day,
G D C
It?s dedication day.
Verse 2
G D C
There was a concert held that evening me and others sang our songs,
G D C
D
while the boys drank beer and reminisced, laughed and clapped and sang along.
G D C
As I was standing there with my guitar, just waiting to go on,
Am D Am
D G
a man grabbed my arm and said please would you play a, song for my mate Hans this dedication day.
Verse 3
G D C
He asked me to sing welcome home, and I saw tears in his eyes,
G D C D
I knew there was a story there, but I did not want to pry.
G D C
And then he said to me, I want that song you see, for this morning my mate died,
Am D Am
D G
faced with his grief there was nothing I could say, so I sang for Hans on dedication day.
Chorus
G D C
It?s dedication day
G D C
It?s dedication day
(Piano solo)
Verse 4
G D C
They say that Hans took his own life, but I don?t know if that?s true,
G D C D
but if it is that?s no surprise, too many Vietnam vetrans do.
G D C
Only those who were there, can know the despair and the pain that he went through,
Am D Am
G
for who can understand it more than they, those who knew the cost of dedication day
Verse 5
G D C
Though that Asian wars long over, there still burying their dead
G D C D
yet somehow the bond grows stronger, with each broken thread
G D C
What poison stole and two hands sold to taint the years ahead
Am D Am D
G
In that war so long ago and far away until they died of wounds on dedication day.
G D C
G D C
Chorus
G D C
It's dedication day
G D C
It's dedication day
(Repeat until fade out)