The Infamous Stringdusters Follow

I was born in Pennsylvania
In 1851
I grew up on my father's farm
The youngest of three sons

The Civil War was raging
The year that I turned twelve
My father joined the ranks of blue
Left us by ourselves

Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew

In summer heat we prayed for rain
The first day of July
Far off thunder rumbleing
No storm clouds in the sky

My brothers grabbed their riffles
"Stay" my mother urged
"Mama that's the sound of canon
Up by Gettysburg"

Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew

Two fearful days and sleepless nights
We waited with no word
Till the guns fell silent
On the morning of the third

My mother watched the road all day
And kept me there close by
Till dusk was hard upon us
And the water jug was dry

With bucket and a lantern
I crossed the field alone
Heard the sound of snapping twigs
And then a quiet moan

Captured in my lantern light
His face in ashen gray
Huddled in a bloody coat
A rebel soldier lay

Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew

"I see you have a kind face
Please don't raise a cry
If I am taken prisoner
I know I'll surely die

"I'm wounded and I mean no harm
I just need to rest a spell
I have fled the battlefield
I've seen the face of hell

"We came by tens of thousands
The battle faught to lose
And we only marched on Gettysburg
Bcause we needed shoes"

I look down at his swollen feet
And tried to understand
And wondered if my brothers
Had died at this man's hand

Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew

I walked back in the cabin
Sat the bucket down
I spoke no word to mother
Of why I'd been so long

All night we sat beside the fire
Praying for good news
Then mother she looked down and asked
"Son where are your shoes?"

Boys I tell'n ya true
...
I learned things I never knew