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                                          Artist - Harvey Andrews
                                         *************************
                                            Song - The Centurion 
                                           **********************
                                         Album - The Journey (1997)
                                        ****************************
                                           Tabbed By - Ayreon77
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Tuning = Standard


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CAPO 2nd FD T
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VERSE 1 - No Chord
********
I was born in Nineteen-hundred, Victoria was queen 
The first of seven children, only three made sweet sixteen 
It was hard but it was happy, it was roses around the door 
'Till we all saluted father, as he went of to the war 
I was tea boy in the factory the day the news arrived 
Making mother one more widow, but together we survived 
Now the century's near over, I've watched it wax and wane
And as I recall it all in all, it's a life I'd live again 


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VERSE 2
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                                                C
At 18 I was courting, Mary filled my heart with pride 
              D                                   G
Twenty saw us married, stepping out there side by side 
                                              C
The work was never easy, but we did it day by day 
                      D                                   G
Saving ha'pennies and farthings 'til we'd ten pounds put away 
         C                   G          C            G
Then the slump took jobs and savings, I had a lot of time 
     C                     G             F                D
So I learned the old mouth organ, "Buddy, can you spare a dime
        G                                            C
Now the century's near over, I've watched it wax and wane 
       D                                             G    D    G
And as I recall it all in all, it's a life I'd live again 


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VERSE 3
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                                         C
Two sons fast a-growing, Nineteen-twenty-five
     D                                              G
Mary wanted so a daughter, but her health it didn't thrive 
                                                       C
She died that distant summer, but our daughter made it through 
  D                                        G
Until the influenza took her at the age of two 
       C              G              C            G
In the Thirties I was busy, like all other folk deprived 
        C                 G                 F              D
Picking coal from off the slagheaps, my two sons and me survived 
        G                                            C
Now the century's near over, I've watched it wax and wane 
       D                                             G    D    G
And as I recall it all in all, it's a life I'd live again 


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VERSE 4
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                                                  C
Thirty-six and I met Lucy, we were married in the spring 
    D                                              G
The boys were new apprenticed and we didn't fear a thing
                                                      C
It was hard but it was happy, it was roses around the door 
        D                                            G
'Til we both saluted my sons as they went off to the war
      C               G       C             G
And I lost one in the navy, a convoy in the Med 
      C                 G                 F                 D
Once again for king and country, our name numbered with the dead 
        G                                            C
Now the century's near over, I've watched it wax and wane 
       D                                             G    D    G
And as I recall it all in all, it's a life I'd live again 


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VERSE 5
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                                               C
The other lad was lucky, and in Nineteen-forty-five
       D                                        G
Me and Lucy lit a candle, giving thanks he was alive 
                                                         C
I turned Fifty then and wondered what the future held in store 
    D                                        G
I'd work on to the pension if we all avoided war 
        C                   G            C                 G
Soon my son walked down the aisle with a sweet girl as his bride 
        C                G           F                  D
And she made me think of Mary as she stood there by his side 
        G                                            C
Now the century's near over, I've watched it wax and wane 
       D                                             G    D    G
And as I recall it all in all, it's a life I'd live again 


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VERSE 6
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                                        C
I retired in the 60's, the bungalow downtown 
        D                                                G
Did the gardening with Lucy 'til the years just wore her down 
                                                   C
I lost her then with sorrow, but remember her with joy
         D                                                  G
And I'll take her flowers tomorrow when I go there with the boy 
       C               G                   C                 G
For he is a fine great-grandson, wears his cap the wrong way round 
         C               G                  F               D
And what I bought with a farthing, seems to cost this kid a pound 
       G                                            C
And he asks me have I really, really lived the century 
      D                                                     G
And I wink and whisper ‘nearly’, and that's good enough for me 


NC
**
I was born in Nineteen-hundred, Victoria was queen 
                                                          G
The first of seven children, only three made sweet sixteen


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OUTRO
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