G    D7     G
And the band played on
       G    C     D
As the helicopters whirred
C            A7           G    Em
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
   G      D7       G
My senses finally blurred


[Verse 1]
D7       G            C               G
He was a rock, to the end a solid reminder
         Am      D7
Couldn't deny a friend
D7              G             C          G
We lived in the noise and the sweet amber poison
Bm                          Am
Peekin' up the skirt of the end


[Verse 2]
D7       G      C                          G
And we'd drink, two gnarly dudes and some records
          Am              D7
Much like plates of black food
D7               G      C              G
We filled up our faces, saw some far places
Bm                        Am    Am   Am
Stood on the roof in the nude


[Chorus]
        G    D7     G
And the band played on
       G    C     D
As the helicopters whirred
C            A7           G    Em
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
   G      D7       G
My senses finally blurred


[Verse 3]
        G         C                           G
Between pulls, he said "we're like cows in the grass"
Am            D7
Brushing off flies
D7               G              C           G
Chaise lounging around standing up, falling down
        Bm                   Am       D7
Till we no longer opened our eyes


[Verse 4]
D7       G            C                          G
And we'd drink, ever notice how drinking's like war
       Am              D7
Cuppa troops o'er the gums
D7                 G           C               G
To the end of our health a campaign 'gainst myself
           Bm                        Am
Armed with bourons and scotches and rums


[Chorus]
        G    D7     G
And the band played on
       G    C       D
As the helicopters whirred
C            A7           G    Em
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
   G      D7       G
My senses finally blurred


[Verse 5]
          G             C                      G
Think of bombs, we're poised on the edge of disaster
              C             D
Whether it's right or it's wrong
D             G       C              G
We opened the window, played some Nintendo
Bm                       Am
Sang a few bars of some pretty old song:


[Interlude]
Am7  D7   G      D7sus4  D6   G
Irene goodnight, Irene        goodnight

G         G7        C
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene

     G      D7     G        D7
I'll see you in my dreams


[Verse 6]
      G              C                   G
Oh to dream, those impotent bones of extinction
       C             D
Flying graceful and free
             G              C          G
None but the best cause the man cannot rest
          Bm                 Am     D7
Till he's finally beaten his me


[Chorus]
        G    D7     G
And the band played on
       G    C     D
As the helicopters whirred
C            A7           G    Em
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
   G      D7       G
My senses finally blurred


[Verse 7]
         G               C                       G
Till the end, he passed out on the sun deck that morning
         C          D
Quietly saying goodbye
   D7        G            C            G
But I was so hammered I sputtered and stammered
Bm                        Am
Told him he couldn't just die


[Verse 8]
         G          C                    G
He was a rock, went straight for his own armageddon
      C          D
Face froze in a grin
D7         G         C        G
Ambulance flyin' in, I never drank again
Bm                        C9       D7
Can't really call that a loss or a win


[Chorus]
        G    D7     G
And the band played on
       G    C     D
As the helicopters whirred
C            A7           G    Em
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
   G      D7       G
My senses finally blurred