one cold winters morning just as day was dawning i sailed out of galway across the wild sea my home left behind me no friends to stand by me alone i was bound for americay in new york i landed flat broke i was stranded in search of employment i walked through the town there was no job waiting so without hesitating i went to the station my name to put down then up spoke the captain said he my fine young man heres pen and heres paper you know what to do praying nothing would harm me i joined lincolns army to fight for the stars the red white and the blue well they gave me a cap and boots of strong leather they gave me a gun and a fine coat of blue and then in marching formation for god and the nation we left new york city our duty to do then general sherman he gave us a sermon on the love of ones country and the rights of mankind as we marched down through georgia my thoughts were on galway and the friends and relations i left far behind johnny rebel was waiting ourselves he was hating and all that we stood for he hated that too but he was a fine fellow and this i will tell you he stood his ground bravely no more could he do  for four angry years through blood sweat and tears we slaughtered each other never counting the cost through hail and fine weather brother fought brother til compassion was gone and all reason was lost and nobody questioned or made a suggestion as to why they all died they just could not explain ah but if this wars over before were much older i promise it never will happen again now the fighting has ended and peace is descended in this war blackened country our comrades lie low lying shoulder to shoulder their bones growing colder the marching is over theres nowhere to go and so mister lincoln i find myself thinking in spite of whats happened i know what well do and god if hes willing therell be no more killing and well raise up the stars the red white and the blue