Southern Soldier Boy

 

The gentlemen killed and the gentlemen died,

But she was the South’s incarnate pride

That mended the broken gentlemen

And sent them out to the war again,

That kept the house with the men away

And baked the bricks where there was no clay,

Made courage from terror and bread from bran

And propped the South on a swansdown fan

Through four long years of ruin and stress,

The pride–and the deadly bitterness.

Stephen Vincent Benet, John Brown’s Body

 

 

Something for the weekend.  Southern Soldier Boy unforgettably sung by Kathy Mattea.

Bob Roebuck is my sweetheart’s name
He’s off to the wars and gone
He’s fighting for his Nannie dear
His sword is buckled on

He’s fighting for his own true love
His foes he does defy
He is the darling of my heart
My Southern soldier boy

Oh if in battle he was slain
I’m sure that I should die
but I’m sure he’ll come again
And cheer my weeping eye

But should he fall
In this our glorious cause
He still would be my joy
For many a sweetheart mourns the loss
Of a Southern soldier boy

I hope for the best
And so do all
Whose hopes are in the field
I know that we shall win the day
For Southrons never yield

And when we think
Of those who are away
We’ll look above for joy
And I’m mighty glad
That my Bobby is
A Southern soldier boy

Bonus rendition: