SONG INFORMATION

Origin: Traditional (1800's, Civil War Ballad)
First published in 1863 and most likely was originally about the Dec 13, 1862 - Battle of Fredericksburg. The lyrics were easily changed to describe almost any battle and used to tell the story of multiple Civil War battles including the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
First recording by Monroe Gevedon (1937)

LYRICS

He was just a blue-eyed Boston boy his voice was low with pain
I’ll do your bidding, comrade mine if you will do the same
But if you should ride and I should fall you’ll do as much for me
While mother at home is awaiting the news so write to her tenderly

She’s waiting at home like a patient saint her pale face filled with woe
Her heart will be broken when I am dead I’ll see her face no more
Just then the order came to charge for a moment hand touched hand
They answered aye and on they rode that brave and devoted band

Straight way was the course to the top of the hill and the Rebels with shot and shell
Plowed furrows of death midst the toiling ranks and guarded them as they fell
There soon came a horrible dying sound from the heights they could not gain
And those whom doom and death had spared rode slowly back again

But among the dead at the top of the hill lay the boy with the golden hair
And the tall dark man who rode by his side lay still beside him there
There was none to write to the blue-eyed girl the words her lover had said
While mother at home is awaiting her boy she’ll only find he’s dead

While mother at home is awaiting her boy she’ll only find he’s dead

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