Josephine

I'm writin' this letter, my darling

From high on a hill

We've been marching ten days

And we're just outside Hopkinsville

It's been snowing all night

And we ain't got no more kerosene

It's colder than hell

Hope you're doing well, Josephine

There's a fever in camp

And our boys are too sick to fight

We done lost old Calvin

Weaver won't make it through the night

I overheard the Captain say

It's the worst he's ever seen

I'm losing some weight

But I'm still standin' up straight, Josephine

Tell my children I miss 'em

And wish I could kiss 'em once more

Bet they've grown a foot since

They waved me goodbye at the door

Tell Mama and Daddy I'm all right

And just one more thing

I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine

There's three-thousand Union troops

Camped at the river below

There's six-hundred of us

'Least there was two nights ago

Well, Erwin deserted, and they

Hung him down by the stream

God, I'm so scared

Keep me in your prayers, Josephine

Well, the orders come down

We attack tonight at nightfall

If we can stop 'em right here

We can win this war, once and for all

You know, I killed a Union boy last week

Bet he wasn't fourteen

He looked just like our son

Forgive me for what I've done, Josephine

Tell my children I miss 'em

And wish I could kiss 'em once more

Bet they've grown a foot since

They waved me goodbye at the door

Tell Mama and Daddy I'm all right

And just one more thing

I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine

And lastly, my darling, in case

I should be killed

Don't grieve me too long

And promise me that you will

Marry another, and don't let him

Treat our babies mean

When he's holding you

Would you think of me too, Josephine?

Tell my babies I miss 'em

And wish I could kiss 'em once more

Bet they've grown a foot since

They waved me goodbye at the door

Tell Mama and Daddy I'm all right

And just one more thing

I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine

I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine