Not Against My Own

My brother is a gray confederate, I consider it wrong
I stand behind our union president, though the struggle is long
But should we march against his regiment, I could never fight on
I’ve fought for love and life and liberty, but not against my own

We traveled here from County Donegal, and our mother cried
We heard the tales the land of bountiful, on the other side
So we left our parents dear, for the life that we’d find here

CHORUS

He left to mine the coal of Tennessee after we arrived
I stayed to work the docks at Providence there in “55”
Then the battle lines were drawn, and the war drags slowly on

CHORUS

His letters came with regularity telling of his strife
Beneath the ground he longed for Ireland and another life
But then McPherson’s Army called, he was the first to leave the hole

CHORUS

Tomorrow morn we march for Gettysburg, I will not be there
I could not fire into their ranks at my loving brother fair
Though our lives have grown apart, I could not forgive my heart

CHORUS

No braver lads will e’er I know than the fighting “69”
A deserting coward I appear as they move to form the line
I’d rather live with the disgrace than my mother’s tortured face

CHORUS