From this day on I own my father's gun

We dug his shallow grave beneath the sun

I laid his broken body down below the southern land

It wouldn't do to bury him where any yankee stands

I'll take my horse and I'll ride the northern plain

To wear the color of the greys and join the fight again

I'll not rest until I know the cause is fought and won

From this day on until I die I'll wear my father's gun

I'd like to know where the riverboat sails tonight

To new orleans well that's just fine alright

`cause there's fighting there and the company needs men

So slip us a rope and sail on round the bend

As soon as this is over we'll go home

To plant the seeds of justice in our bones

To watch the children growing and see the women sewing

There'll be laughter when the bells of freedom ring