Tennessee Ernie Ford
Virginia’s Bloody Soil
Come all you loyal unionists, wherever you may be
I hope you'll pay attention and listen unto me
For well you know the blood and woe, the misery, the toil
It took to down secession on Virginia's bloody soil
When our good flag, the Stars and Stripes, from Sumter's walls was hurled
And high overhead on the forwardest walls the Rebel's flag unfurled
It aroused each loyal Northern man and caused his blood to boil
For to see that flag, Secession's rag, float o'er Virginia's soil
Then from the hills and mountain tops there came that wild alarm
Rise up ye gallant sons of North
Our country calls to arms
Come from the plains o'er hill and dale, ye hardy sons of toil
For our flag is trampled in the dust on Virginia's bloody soil
And thousands left their native homes, some never to return
And many's the wife and family dear were left behind to mourn
There was one who went among them who from danger would ne'er recoil
His bones lie bleaching on the fields of Virginia's bloody soil
When on the field of battle, he never was afraid
When cannons loud would rattle, he stood there
Undismayed
When bullets rained around him, he stood there with a
Smile
Saying, "We'll conquer, boys, or leave our bones on
Virginia's bloody soil"
In the great fight of the Wilderness, where many's the
Brave man fell
He boldly led his comrades on through Rebel shot and
Shell
The wounded 'round they strewed the ground; the dead
Lay heaped in piled
The comrades weltered in their blood on Virginia's
Bloody soil
The Rebels fought like fury, or tigers drove to bay
They knew full well, if the truth they'd tell, they could not win the day
It was hand to hand they fought 'em. The struggle was fierce and wild
Till a bullet pierced our captain's brain, on Virginia's bloody soil
But above that din of battle, what was that dreadful
Cry?
The woods are all afire, where our dead and wounded lie
The sight to behold next morning would make the stoutest heart recoil
To see the charred remains of thousands on Virginia's bloody soil
And now our hero's sleeping with thousands of the brave
No marble slab does mark the place that shows where he was laid
He died to save our Union
He's free of care and toil
Thank God
The Stars and Stripes still wave above Virginia's soil