Battle of Bull Run lyrics

The sun shown bright and clear

That day we all left Washington

To lick the Rebel boys in grey

At the Battle of Bull Run

They came from Pennsylvania

And some from Maryland

To see the Rebel boys get spanked

By Honest Abe's broad hand.

We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta

And to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington

And Philadelphia, and Philadelphia.

The ladies wore their brightest shawls

The gentlemen were gay

They came to see their Yankee boys

Whip old Virginia

I held my momma's hand and skipped

When a soldier said to me

Would you rather have Jeff Davis' hat

Or the sword of Bobbie Lee.

We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta

And to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington

And Philadelphia, and Philadelphia.

And then the general doffed his hat

And said let's rest a spell

And for the first time we all heard

That awful rebel yell

The waters of Manassas creek

Became a ruby red

And many a Reb and Yankee boy

Lay in the willows dead.

We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta

And to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington

And Philadelphia, and Philadelphia.

A fight locked in the chest of time

Too horrible to tell

Virginny's true green countryside

Became a lake of hell

Don't count your chicks before they're hatched

Or you'll work until it's done

Remember yes remember long

The Battle of Bull Run.

We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta

And to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington

And Philadelphia, and Philadelphia...

• Artist:Johnny Horton
• Album:Johnny Horton Makes History (1960)