Lookout Mountain

November of '63, high up over Tennessee

We were holding Lookout Mountain

We couldn't see down through the clouds

But there wasn't any doubt

That there was Yankees there beyond the counting

The Union guns began to roar

Firing up from the valley floor

And through the mist it looked like lightning

Their muskets spouting flame

Up through the fog they came

I will not lie, Lord, it was frightening

And the chaplain said, "Boys, we're up so high

If you listen you'll hear Gabriel's trumpet sounding

And heaven's just a step away

For the brave men who will die on Lookout Mountain"

Our cannons could not fire

Straight down the mountain side

And those Yankee boys drew closer

The odds were six to one

So when Captain Brown said, "Son, can you hold on?"

I told him, "No, sir"

In the driving rain with our powder gone

We sent boulders crashing down around them

Well, we'd done our best, but they would not turn

And we could not hold them off of Lookout Mountain

We saw that all hope was gone

But we thought of the folks at home

And if we ran it would surely disgrace them

So as the bullets flew

There was just one thing to do

We said a prayer and turned to face them

Well, they shot me down, but there was no pain

In the darkness, one more rebel heart stopped pounding

By the morning light, I was glory-bound

Before they raised the Union flag on Lookout Mountain

By the morning light, we were glory-bound