in the bright sunny south in peace and content these days of my boyhood i scarcely have spent from the deep flowing spring to the broad flowing stream ever dear to my memory the sweeter is my dream i lay my confinement and comfort of life the dangers of warfare provision and strife i have come to come close and reply with my word as i shoulder my musket and belted my sword my father looked sad as he bid me to part my mother embraced me with anguish of heart my beautiful sister looked pale in her woe as she hugged me and blessed me and told me to go dear father dear father for me do not weep im a lonesome man and i mean for to keep the dangers of war i intend for to share and for sickness and death i intend to prepare dear mother dear mother for me do not weep for a mother s kind voice i always will keep you have taught me be brave from a boy to a man and im going in defense of your own native land dear sister dear sister im afeared of your woe your grief and your sorrow they trouble me so i must be going for here i cannot stand im going in defense of her own native land