Kyle Thompson: Music
Angel Of The Battlefield
(Kyle Thompson)
Kyle Thompson
Recorded in Old Salem Church, Fredericksburg National Military Park
ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD
WELL…ALL US BOYS, FROM NEW ENGLAND WE CAME
THERE’S BOYS FROM MASSACHUSETTS…AND DOWN EAST MAINE
WE COME TO KILL REBELS… WE COME FOR THE FIGHT…
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD…AND DOIN’ WHAT’S RIGHT
WELL…THE FIRST TIME WE SEEN BATTLE WAS ALONG THE BULL RUN
AND THEY CUT US TO PIECES ‘NIETH THE HEAT OF THE SUN
AND AT 2ND MANASSAS THE CANNONFIRE RAINED…
UPON THE RANKS OF OUR BOYS…LIKE A HELLFIRE OF PAIN
NO I WASN’T DREAMIN’ UNLESS THIS LIFE IS A DREAM…
IT WAS A HARVEST OF DEATH LIKE THE LORD’S NEVER SEEN…
BOILED OUR SHIRTS AT ANTIETAM AND WE SWALLOWED OUR PRIDE
BEFORE THE STONEWALL IN FREDERICKSBURG HALF OF US DIED
THERE IS NOTHING SO BITTER AS DEATH IN DEFEAT
‘CEPT LEAVING THE DEAD THERE…AS THE LIVING RETREAT
NO I WASN’T DREAMIN’ UNLESS THIS LIFE IS A DREAM…
IT WAS A HARVEST OF DEATH LIKE THE LORD’S NEVER SEEN…
IT WAS THERE I FIRST SAW HER…WITH BLOOD ON HER GOWN
TENDING THE WOUNDED THAT COVERED THE TOWN
LIKE MARY OF JESUS SHE WALKED THROUGH THE MEN
AND THE SIGHT OF HER FACE …BROUGHT COMFORT TO THEM
TO THOSE WITHOUT ARMS…AND THOSE WITHOUT LEGS
BOYS THAT WERE GUTSHOT…FOR WATER THEY BEGGED
AND THE ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD…KNELT BY THEIR SIDE
AND WATERED THEIR THIRST…AND KISSED THOSE WHO HAD DIED
NO I WASN’T DREAMIN’ UNLESS THIS LIFE IS A DREAM…
IT WAS THE ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD…THAT DAY THAT I SEEN…
IT WAS THE ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD…THAT DAY THAT I SEEN…
NO I WASN’T DREAMIN’ UNLESS THIS LIFE IS A DREAM…
NOW…EVERY ONE OF US HAS SEEN THE HORRORS OF DEATH
COME CLOSE TO HIS TOUCH, SMELT THE STENCH OF HIS BREATH
BUT ANY MANS HEART THAT WAS TAKEN BY FEAR
REGAINED HIS COURAGE WHEN CLARA CAME NEAR
NO I WASN’T DREAMIN’ UNLESS THIS LIFE IS A DREAM…
IT WAS THE ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD…THAT DAY THAT I SEEN…
IT WAS THE ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD…THERE THAT I SEEN…
NO I WASN’T DREAMIN’ UNLESS THIS LIFE IS A DREAM…