woke tonight from my sleep in a restless hell chains lying cross the floor outside a distant yell eyes stare straight in front of me a dream i can t return on this dead end street in tennessee a trip i soon will learn that what i thought was an escape a chance to get away could all come rushing to a halt slow down and live today but don t find yourself alone and staring down at the road hear the cries of battle lullabies and the dead s solemn load as i stared into his eyes he said rise from this bed the wheel s roll slow outside it s the crawl of the dead to them the war is raging lee s last battle call has stirred them from their endless sleep tonight they will not fall look now son the scene out front as they move into the night no one s told them their time is up and they ll march on to fight but don t find yourself alone and staring down at the road because the preacher won t save you from a devil s fate and the dead s fading load one soul s stuck down on the rail pushing and a pulling in the night time air everyone s stuck down on the rail waiting on the word that takes him home one soul s stuck down on the rail pushing and a pulling in the night time air everyone s stuck down on the rail waiting on the word that takes him home i can remember what kept me alive and well today as the mist broke way for the army to find solace on their way was not the peace of this tennessee home or a life i d left behind but words coming from the glass eyes of a shackled man in time could make me see what they d lost by handing over their rights to the tongue of a judge and jury who made sure they d always fight but don t find yourself alone and staring down at the road because one man s freedom could mean a curse on the dead s final load one soul s stuck down on the rail pushing and a pulling in the night time air everyone s stuck down on the rail waiting on the word that takes him home one soul s stuck down on the rail pushing and a pulling in the night time air everyone s stuck down on the rail waiting on the word that takes him home waiting on the word that takes him home waiting on the word that takes him home