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THE BALLAD OF PICKETT'S CHARGE a Civil War song
lyrics by Joel Sattler

On the 3rd day out at Gettysburg
it looked like we could win
all we had to do was
overwhelm them once again

just like we did at Petersburg
the Battle of Bull Run
when we smashed the Union Army
down before the day was done

our spirits were the highest
we gave the Rebel Yell
and shouted at the Yankees
we would see them all in Hell

Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
who's to say that it was right or wrong
the high tide of Confederacy
and now those days of antebellum
gone

the day of Pickett's Charge
we all lined up at the rear
looking at the faded CDVs
of those that we held so dear

General Lee he gave the order
General Longstreet passed it on
and we went marching cross the cornfield
with our rifles and a song

this was not the fate we wanted
it was not what we would choose
there's no honor in our murder
there's no glory when you lose

But heart and gut are not enough
when bullets start to hail
and even fearless butternuts
have been known at last to fail

Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
who's to say that it was right or wrong
the high tide of Confederacy
and now those days of antebellum
gone

when leadership is faulty
even iron men can break
even Robert Edward Lee
can make a bad mistake

Pickett gave the order
but he didn't lead the fight
and when it all was over
his soul was black as night

"Look to your division"
General Lee to Pickett said
"But I have no division
and all my men are dead!"

Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
who's to say that it was right or wrong
the high tide of Confederacy
and now those days of antebellum
gone

we could have won the war
but it wasn't in the cards
and that's the final lesson taught
by Pickett's Charge

Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
who's to say that it was right or wrong
the high tide of Confederacy
and now those days of antebellum
gone

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