by Kevin Porter

Created on: May 17, 2009   Last Updated: January 23, 2010

The last two verses of this song, sung to the tune of The Yellow Rose of Texas, I took from the brilliant book The Decisive Battle of Nashville by Stanley F. Horn.  The Battle of Gettysburg was certainly the turning point in the American Civil War but the Battle of Nashvile actually decided its outcome.

*

Battle of Nashville

*

General Thomas of Virginia

We aimed to whip you good

Take Louisville for leisure

And go just where we would

*

We took the town of Franklin

Our hearts were full of glee

Two bloody days near Nashville

With our prize there plain to see

*

From the battlefield retreated

Our cannon lost it's true

You know we aren't defeated

Refreshed we'll fight anew

*

So we've been to hell and back

Next time we'll give them more

Just to kick those blasted Yankees

Out of that town that we adore

*

O those folks back up in Nashville

Well, that's a sorry lot

Today they knew no pleasure

That town has a broken heart

*

The thousands must be buried

Where hell on earth was taught

The bravest men of glory

They all stood their ground and fought

*

So now we're going to leave you

Our hearts are full of woe

We're going back to Georgia

To see our Uncle Joe

*

You talk about your Beauregard

And sing of General Lee

But the gallant Hood of Texas

He played hell in Tennessee

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Battle a Nashville (Southern Drawl Version, the way I talks it in the hills a Tennessee.)

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Gen'ral Thomas a Verginny

We aimed ta whoop ya good

Take Lulvul fur leisure

And go just where we would

*

We took da town of Franklin

Our hearts were full a glee

Two bloody days near Nashville

With our prize there plain ta see

*

From da battlefield retreated

Our cannon lost it's true

Ya know we ain't defeated

Refreshed we'll fight anew

*

So we've been ta hell and back

Next time we'll give 'um more

Just ta kick them blasted Yankees

Outta that town that we adore

*

O them folks back up in Nashville

Well, that's a sorry lot

Today they knew no pleasure

That town's gotta broken heart

*

Da thousands must be buried

Where hell on earth was taught

Da bravest men a glory

That all stood their ground and fought

*

So now we're gonna leave ya

Our hearts are fulla woe

We're goin' back ta Georgia

Ta sees our Uncle Joe

*

Ya talks about yer Beauregard

And sings a Gen'ral Lee

But the gallant Hood a Texas

He played hell in Tennessee

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