Written by Leon Payne
C F C The sun shown bright and clear that day we all left Washington F C To lick the Rebel boys in gray at the Battle of Bull Run F C They came from Pennsylvania and some from Maryland F C To see the Rebel boys get spanked by Honest Abe's broad hand F C We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay F C F C But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia and Philadelphia F C The ladies wore their brightest shawls the gentlemen were gay F C They came to see their Yankee boys whip old Virginia F C I held my momma's hand and skipped when a soldier said to me F C Would you rather have Jeff Davis' hat or the sword of Bobbie Lee F C We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay F C F C But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia and Philadelphia F C And then the general doffed his hat and said let's rest a spell F C And for the first time we all heard that awful rebel yell F C The waters of Manassas creek became a ruby red F C And many a Reb and Yankee boy lay in the willows dead F C We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay F C F C But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia and Philadelphia F C A fight locked in the chest of time too horrible to tell F C Virginny's true green countryside became a lake of hell F C Don't count your chicks before they're hatched or you'll work until it's done F C Remember yes remember long the Battle of Bull Run F C We said we'll run 'em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay F C F C But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia and Philadelphia