now the fog and smoke is lifting from the fallen row on row in 1861 they prayed for god to keep their souls jimmy left home in april that was one year to the day writes his mother back home in brighton but he ain t got much to say he s forgotten what his town looks like the smell of death is all around he dreams of the blue atlantic to once again be homeward bound homeward bound though the road was long and winding many snares lay in their path but their struggle they saw as righteous they fought with might and struck with wrath now the battle hymns are playing report of shots not far away no prayer no promise no hand of god could save their souls that april day tell their wives that they fought bravely as they lay them in their graves as the train pulled in the station and the families gathered round you could hear the first cart echo with a loud triumphant sound but the last cart it was silent they listened close but they couldn t hear it was laden down with coffins that didn t speak and couldn t cheer now the battle hymns are playing report of shots not far away no prayer no promise no hand of god could save their souls that april day tell their wives that they fought bravely as they lay them in their graves as the train pulled in the station and the families gathered round you could hear the first car echo with a loud triumphant sound now the battle hymns are playing report of shots not far away no prayer no promise no hand of god could save their souls that april day now the battle hymns are playing report of shots not far away no prayer no promise no hand of god could save the souls of the blue and gray tell their wives that they fought bravely as they lay them in their graves