Josephine

I’m writing this letter, my darling, from high on the 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 doin’ well, Josephine

There’s a fever in camp and our boys are too sick to fight

We done lost old Calvin, Beaver won’t make it through the night

I hope I heard the captain say it’s the worst he’s ever seen

I’m losin’ 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 alright and just want 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 hundreds of us, least there was two nights ago

When Erwin deserted they hung him down by the tree

God I’m so scared, keep me in your prayers, Josephine

Well the orders come down, we’ll attack tonight at nightfall

If we can stop them 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 alright and just want 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 breathe me too long, promise me that you will

Marry another, 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 alright and just want one more thing

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

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