we live in hard and stirring times too sad for mirth too rough for rhymes for songs of peace have lost their chimes and thats whats the matter the men we held as brothers true have turns into a rebel crew so now we have to put them thro and thats whats the matter thats whats the matter the rebels have to scatter well make them flee by land and sea and thats whats the matter oh yes we thought our neighbors true indulgd them as their mothers do thy stormd our bright red white and blue and thats whats the matter well never give up what we gain for now we know we must maintain our laws and rights with might and main and thats whats the matter thats whats the matter the rebels have to scatter well make them flee by land and sea and thats whats the matter the rebels thought we would divide and democrats would take their side they then would let the union slide and thats whats the matter but when the war had once begun all party feeling soon was gone we joind as brothers evry one and thats whats the matter  thats whats the matter the rebels have to scatter well make them flee by land and sea and thats whats the matter the merrimac with heavy sway had made our fleet an easy prey the monitor got in the way and thats whats the matter so health to captain ericsson i cannot tell all he has done id never stop when once begun and thats whats the matter thats whats the matter the rebels have to scatter well make them flee by land and sea and thats whats the matter weve heard of genral beauregard and thought hed fight us long and hard but he has playd out his last card and thats whats the matter so whats the use to fret and pout we soon will hear the people shout secession dodge is all playd out and thats whats the matter 