Key: G
Introduction:
AM
WE SIGNED UP IN SAN ANTON
G C
MY BROTHER PAUL AND ME
G
TO FIGHT WITH BEN MCCOLLOCH
AM
AND THE TEXAS INFANTRY
AM
WELL THE POSTER SAID WE'D GET A UNIFORM
G C
AND SEVEN BUCKS A WEEK
G
THE BEST RATIONS IN THE ARMY
AM
AND A RIFLE WE COULD KEEP
AM
WHEN I FIRST LAID EYES ON THE GENERAL
G C
I KNEW HE WAS A FIGHTING MAN
G
HE WAS EVERY INCH A SOLDIER
AM
EVERY WORD WAS HIS COMMAND
AM
WELL HIS EYES WERE COLD AS LEAD AND STEEL
G C
FORGED INTO TOOLS OF WAR
G
HE TOOK THE LIVES OF MANY
AM
AND THE SOULS OF MANY MORE
AM
WELL THEY MARCHED US TO MISSOURI
G C
AND WE HARDLY STOPPED FOR REST
G
THEN HE MADE HIS SPEECH AND SAID
AM
WE'RE COMIN' TO THE TEST
AM
WELL WE'VE GOT TO TAKE SAINT LOUIS BOYS
G C
BEFORE THE YANKEES DO
G
IF WE CONTROL THE MISSISSIPPI
AM
THEN THE FEDERALS ARE THROUGH
AM
WELL THEY TOLD US THAT OUR ENEMY
G C
WOULD ALL BE DRESSED IN BLUE
G
THEY FORGOT ABOUT THE WINTERS COLD
AM
AND THE CURSED FEVER TOO
AM
MY BROTHER DIED IN WILSONS CREEK
G
WE FELL BACK TO THE BOSTON MOUNTAINS
AM
IN THE NORTH OF ARKANSAS
G
GODDAMN YOU BEN MCCOLLOCH
D
I HATE YOU MORE THAN ANY MAN ALIVE
AM EM
AND WHEN YOU DIE
AM EM
YOU'LL BE A FOOT SOLDIER JUST LIKE ME
D G
IN THE DEVILS INFANTRY
AM
AND ALL THE WAY TO FAYETTEVILLE
G C
WE CURSED MCCULLOCH'S NAME
G
AND MOURNED THE DEAD WE'D LEFT BEHIND
AM
AND WE WAS CARRING THE LAME
AM
I KILLED A BOY THE OTHER NIGHT
G C
WHO'D NEVER EVEN SHAVED
G
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M FIGHTIN' FOR
AM
I AIN'T EVER OWNED A SLAVE
AM
SO I SNUCK OUT OF CAMP
G C
AND I HEARD THE NEWS NEXT NIGHT
G
THE YANKEES WON THE BATTLE
AM
AND MCCOLLOCH LOST HIS LIFE
G
GODDAMN YOU BEN MCCOLLOCH
D
I HATE YOU MORE THAN ANY MAN ALIVE
AM EM
AND WHEN YOU DIE
AM EM
YOU'LL BE A FOOT SOLDIER JUST LIKE ME
D G
IN THE DEVILS INFANTRY