VIRGINIA
Voices of Soldiers
Come Judgment Day God only knows
If man will reap the pain he sows
And what will be the price he has to pay
But down here on the killing floor
Among the crimson rags of war
For me each day I live is Judgment day
Every day for me is Judgment Day
Captain Billy Pierce
There was a time
A time of splendour and grace
When the world moved by
At a kinder pace
There was a land
A land to pleasure the eyes
Where the old was new
And the foolish wise
I can hear Virginia
When the south wind sings
And I see her shining
On a blackbird’s silver wings
And I can feel Virginia
Runnin’ through my soul
When the flags unfurl
And the drummers start their long, long roll
Oh, sacred ground
For which so many have died
Let us take our turn
For our country’s pride
Oh, blessed place
Remember all of your sons
Who will stand and fall
‘Neath the ceaseless guns
I can hear Virginia
When the south wind sings
And I see her shining
On a blackbird’s silver wings
And I can feel Virginia
Runnin’ through my soul
When the flags unfurl
And the drummers start their long, long roll
And by God I’ll see her rise again
As in days gone by
May her flags all fly
I will fight until I fall and then
Fight again
I can hear Virginia
Through the cannon roar
And I see her shining
Just beyond this bloody war
So I search for courage
In my restless soul
When the flags unfurl
And the drummers start their long, long roll
And the drummers start their long, long roll
CANDLE IN THE WINDOW
Frederick Douglass
I have never been to Washington before,
as it was a slave-holding city until 1862.
My visit is occasioned by the President’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Now, at last, the coloured men of the North and South are ready to rally to the stars and stripes at the first tap of the drum.
All the President has to do is give them the chance.
But Mr. Lincoln’s reluctance to enlist the black troops into the army has made it impossible for me not to go and put my case before him in person.
Harriet Jackson
The President will see you now, Mr. Douglass.
Frederick Douglass
I am the only black face amongst a sea of white petitioners, who all seem more than surprised that Mr. Lincoln has agreed to the see the Negro visitor first.
Harriet Jackson
First door on the right
In a lonely window
Shines a solitary light
Burning in the window
Near a figure in a chair
Always sitting there
Quiet as a prayer
Does he close his eyes?
Weary with the weight of being
Suddenly so wise
Tired of the demons
He must sit up there and fight
Deep into the night
Praying that he’s right?
Every evening I can see his shadow on the shade
And I don’t feel so alone or so afraid
There’s a candle in the window every night
Reflecting all our hopes and dreams
Or so it seems to me as I look up to see
That candle in the window every night
Burning like the yearning to be free
Far away and dim
Kept alive by him
Frederick Douglass
Politicians.
Harriet Jackson
First door on the right
Shines the promise of his light
OH, BE JOYFUL!
Soldier 1
When this war is over
And we all have passed away
Soldier 2
There’ll be some damn fool in some damn school
Who’ll write about today
Soldier 3
He’ll tell ’em how we all survived
This bullshit every day
Autolycus Fell
And never say that thing it was
That helped along the way
Good evening, gentlemen.
I am offering the finest Chakta whiskey
Known by various appelations
Such as Oil of Gladness, Hangover, Knock ’em Stiff, and Oh, Be Joyful!
Guaranteed to entertain an after-dinner stomach
And provide you with revealing commentary on human nature
Two dollars a pour
That’s all you’ll want, or like to stand
Soldiers
Oh be joyful, makes my troubles disappear
A cup of oh be joyful makes me joyful I am here
Oh be joyful, only you can set me free
If you’re good enough for U.S. Grant
You’re good enough for me
We get up every morning
And we march through all this mud
Always tonin’ this and liftin’ that
And eatin’ some ole’ spud
And if you find a woman
You are bound to catch the crud
But there is always one thing
That will ossify the blood
Oh be joyful, makes my troubles disappear
A cup of Oh be joyful makes me joyful I am here
Oh be joyful, only you can set me free
If you’re good enough for U.S. Grant
You’re good enough for me
Bad shoes, bad food, and lousy brass
Oh be joyful save my ass
Well, we march and do the double-quick
This sergeant’s too damn rough
This Dixie mud is mighty slick
And this bread is hard and tough
That’s the crap they put us through
But brother we obey
So thank God for his nectar
That will get us through the day
Oh be joyful, makes my troubles disappear
A cup of oh be joyful makes me joyful I am here
Oh be joyful, only you can set me free
If you’re good enough for U.S. Grant
You’re good enough for me
FIVE BOYS
Voice of Abraham Lincoln
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts, that you are the
mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so
overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they
died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the
loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Mrs. Bixby
Five boys
Ever will they have each other
Brother ever there for brother
Safe at last and ever free
Five boys
Playing in a field with angels
When I close my eyes I see them waiting for me
In his grace I know that their souls will find shelter
Far away from all of the madness out there
My heart and I will share a mother’s one last prayer
Five boys
Playing in field with angels
Running with the wind forever
Waiting for me
THE HOSPITAL
Nurse
Hurry sister, I need help over here
And there ain’t no time to shed an angry tear
Mrs. Bixby
I don’t think there’s anymore I can bear
Nurse
But the boys keep piling up everywhere
So take a stand and pick a side
Lend a hand or step aside
Soldiers
Sister, sister, make the pain go away
Give me something stronger than the prayers you pray
There ain’t no one gonna take my leg
Give me something stronger, do I have to beg?
I need a nurse, I need a nurse
I need a nurse, I need a
Clayton Toler
Pardon me, I’ve lost my way
I’m lookin for the river and I need some help
I’ve lost my way
Soldiers
You’ve lost your way, well mister that’s too bad
I’ve just lost my brother, he was all I had
You picked the wrong day mister, the wrong day for sure
It’s because of you, we’re in this god damn war
Just move along, be on your way
Just move along, hear what I say
Clayton Toler
I don’t want no trouble with no one
I’m just tryin’ to find my way to meet my woman down by the river
I’ve been lost since the break of day
Soldiers
I don’t want to know your story
Get out of here
Do you hear me talkin’?
Are my words not clear?
Clayton Toler
I don’t want no trouble
Soldier
That’s what you’ll get
Clayton Toler
I don’t want no…
Soldiers
Tell me why you ain’t left yet
You are are the reason, you are the reason
You are the reason
You god damn people
Move along, just move along, now move along
Mrs. Bixby
Stop! Get out!
IF PRAYIN’ WERE HORSES (Reprise)
Clayton Toler
I don’t want that kind of help, from them that can’t see
They can’t stop tomorrow with their fury
I’ve already paid in full, for what they call free
The scars on my back can be my jury
We’ll build us a new world, one that can be free
A place where they’ll just let us be
If prayin’ were horses, all of us would ride
Oh, Bessie, please find me some how
Bessie Toler
I’ll find you, or else I’ll die. I’ll find you I swear
I won’t spend another day without you
Tonight there’s a moonlit sky, so just say a prayer
And wait for my lovin’ arms about you
RIVER JORDAN
Bessie Toler
My dearest husband,
If this letter finds you before I go, know I am on my way.
I tried to buy myself from Mr. Jim like we planned, but he took all the money you sent me and told me I would never get free, only at the point of a bayonet.
So I have resolved to run away and meet you.
A coloured man named Reynolds has come round and says he can take me north by way of the river.
I know God loves us, and He will help me find you.
Benjamin Reynolds
We break our backs for the master’s pleasure
Waitin’ for that sweet old by and by
And singin’ “Go Down Moses” at the levee
Until we lay our burden down and die
But they say there’s a new wind that’s blowin’
Down the mighty Mississippi dressed in blue
Shakin’ loose these chains that bind me
Until this endless night is finally through
So meet me by the River Jordan
Knee-deep in a risin’ tide
And we’ll climb aboard that boat called freedom
And we will all sail over to the other side
Sail on
Sain on
I said sail on
Sail on over to the other side
I said sail on
Sail on
Sail on over to the other side
So come on, meet me by the River Jordan
Knee-deep in a risin’ tide
We’ll climb aboard that boat called freedom
And we’ll all sail on over to the other side
We’ll be singin’ Halleluja
When this mis’ry sure ‘nough be passed
We’ll be singin’ Halleluja
Halleluja, ’cause we are free at last
Hold on, hold on
When you live in the east of Eden you’ve
Got to pray
That you’ll find yourself in paradise one day
Meet me by the River Jordan
Knee-deep in a risin’ tide
We’ll climb aboard that boat called freedom
And we’ll all sail on over to the other side
Hold on, hold on
When you live in the East of Eden you’ve
Got to pray
That you’ll find yourself in paradise one day
Meet me by the River Jordan
Knee-deep in a risin’ tide
We’ll climb aboard that boat called freedom
And we’ll all sail on over to the other side
We’ll be singin’ Halleluja
When this mis’ry sure ‘nough be passed
We’ll be singin’ Halleluja
Halleluja, ’cause we are free at last
Meet me by the River Jordan
Knee-deep in a risin’ tide
We’ll climb aboard that boat called freedom
And we’ll all sail right on over to the
Other side.
Yes, we will all sail on over to the other side
SARAH
Corporal William McEwen
Tonight in perfect silence two thousand men are asleep all around me.
Indications are that we shall move tomorrow.
If I should not be able to write again
If I am called upon to lay down all my joys in this life
To help maintain the country, I am ready
Oh, Sarah, my Sarah
I fear I must go
And leave you to move on alone
A hard wind is risin’ and fixin’ to blow
And scatter the days we have known
But come what may I’ll always be with you
Watching from above
Oh Sarah, my Sarah, my love
I see you, my Sarah, when I close my eyes
It’s summer and we’re at the fair
Your laughter so haunting, so full of surprise
Drifts back like some ghost through the air
So when you feel a cool breeze passing by
Know that I am there
As real as the words of my prayer
If fate is kind I’ll soon be by your side
But always know you can find me deep inside
Oh, Sarah, my Sarah, I’ll whisper your name
My thoughts all will run home to you
My heart is the candle and your heart the flame
That burns with a fire so true
And know that we will surely meet again
Until then I swear
I love you, my Sarah
Forever and always
And always my heart will be there
Corporal William McEwen and Sarah McEwan
I love you, my Sarah
Forever and always
Sarah McEwen
And always my heart will be there
THE HONOR OF YOUR NAME
Sarah McEwan
Today a man came to our door
Dressed in black, with news of war
A face I’ve never seen before
And Bill, I never will forget him
I knew at once that you were gone
He tipped his hat, and then moved on
And left my world a cold and empty space
Such a lonely place
But for the promise
That we made so long ago
For the nights
When you held me in your arms
I will keep life’s fragile flame
For the honor of your name
I don’t know what to do right now
Except to struggle on somehow
I’ve learned to sow, I’ll learn to plow
And Bill, I never will forget you
The kids and I might move out west
I’ll take our dream and leave the rest
There’s nothin’ for my broken heart to do
‘Cept write these words to you
For the promise
That we made so long ago
For the love
All the love that will not die
I will keep life’s fragile flame
For the honor of your name
And maybe someday when I’m stronger
I will look back on this day
And understand all the reasons why
The good Lord took you away
But for the promise
That we made so long ago
For the man
That I see in our son’s eyes
I will keep life’s fragile flame
For the honor of your name
GREENBACK (Reprise)
Autolycus Fell
Greenback, you can’t use it any way
Greenback, helps a body survive
Hot lead does the same to blue and grey
He’s dead, brother I’m still alive
One man’s treasure is another man’s trash
You can die brave, while I count the cash
One man’s hero, is another man’s fool
Hey Captain
Much obliged
Violet
Greenback, gonna be the prize
Greenback, gonna save your skin
Quicker dead, now Violet’s gettin’ fed
NORTHBOUND TRAIN
Captain Emmett Lochran
When all is said and done, I guess we’re all the same
The words we speak, our hopes, and the God we claim
It’s you and me, just a different name
Saw two men, one gray, and the other blue
Talkin’ cross the picket lines the whole night through
Just swappin’ lies, like two farm boys will do
They talked all night about the simple things
Like women, crops and the weather
The home-sick song that the south wind sings
And the whistle calls of the northbound train
Confederate Soldier
Yank! Hey Yank! You been shot?
Union Soldier
Nope. You?
Confederate Soldier
What?
Union Soldier
You got any holes in you?
Confederate Soldier
None ‘cept those God made me with.
Used to be good apples in this country. You son-of-bitches ate ’em all.
Union Soldier
You hungry? I got some hard cracker if you want it.
Confederate Soldier
Throw it over.
Captain Emmett Lochran
They traded tales of the battles fought
Of how they felt and what they thought
Until they found they stood on common ground
But then the here and now came rushing back somehow
Reminding them of the deadly row
Like an angry blade that cuts against the grain
Mornin’ broke and the spell was gone
But they were older and wiser
They said goodbye and they both moved on
Like the whistle call of a northbound train
Hear the whistle call of a northbound train
Confederate Soldier
You know somethin’ Yank
Union Soldier
What’s that?
Confederate Soldier
We could solve this war in 30 minutes if they left it to us.
Union Soldier
When you goin’ home?
Confederate Soldier
I am home.
Captain Billy Pierce
Get up boy, we’re movin’ out
Confederate Soldier
Where we headin’ Captain?
Captain Billy Pierce
We’re goin’ up against them. We’re headin’ North.
LAST WALTZ FOR DIXIE
Captain Billy Pierce
Here tonight
As I look upon the faces of my brothers
I remember all the others who are gone
Safe in His grace
Watching over this place
With the dawn
Into His hands we shall surrender to his glory
And when they tell the story let them say
Of the sons of the Gray
Not one turned away
It’s the last waltz for Dixie
It’s the last song she’ll sing
So play it with pride
For all those who died
And the spirit inside you
That’s the Dixie in me
I believe
There has never been a group of men so splendid
Or a cause so well-defended as our own
Be it heaven or hell
Hail and farewell
It’s the last waltz for Dixie
It’s the last song she’ll sing
So play it with pride
For all those who died
And the spirit inside you
That’s the dixie in me
For all we hold dear
The road ahead is clear
For all the things we honor
The moment is here
It’s the last waltz for Dixie
It’s the last song she’ll sing
So play it with pride
For all those who died
And the spirit inside you
That’s the Dixie in me
THE GLORY
Captain Emmett Lochran
The bugle calls us to the line
From the mists of the long ago
See how the battle sabres shine
And the shadows the flags all throw
For the glory
For a land forever free
For the last best hope of mankind
For the better part of me
For the glory
For the words we hold so dear
Let us give the last full measure
Gathered here
For the glory
Frederick Douglass
Our time to stand has come at last
Let the drums start the long long roll
Black Soldier
The chains are gone, the die is cast
To His grace I commend my soul
Captain Emmett Lochran
For the glory
For the country we could be
For the freedom we must cherish
If we die, let us die free
All
For the glory
For the truth we hold so dear
Let us give the last full measure
Gathered here
Captain Billy Pierce
For the glory
Frederick Douglass
The surrender of the Confederacy, the president’s second inaugaration, and his funeral have all happened in little more than a month.
Six hundred and twenty thousand Americans have lost their lives.
On the issue of slavery, Mr. Lincoln seemed slow, cold and indifferent.
But, given the sentiments of the country, he was swift, radical and determined.
Taking him all in all, I know now that infinite wisdom has seldom sent any man into the world better fitted for his mission than Abraham Lincoln.
I was at his inaugaration, and I remember his words.
Fondly do we hope — fervently do we pray — that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.
Voice of Abraham Lincoln
With malice toward none
With charity for all
With firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right
Let us strive on to finish the work we are in
To bind up the nation’s wounds
All
For the glory
For the men of blue and gray
Make the country that they died for
Worth the price they had to pay
For the glory
Let the voice of freedom grow
‘Til we finish what they started, long ago
For the glory
For the men of blue and gray
Make the country that they died for
Worth the price they had to pay
For the glory
Let the voice of freedom grow
‘Til we finish what they started, long ago
For the Glory