Iâm writing this letter, my darling, from high on the hill
Weâve been marching ten days and weâre just outside Hopkinsville
Itâs been snowing all night and we ainât got no more kerosene
Itâs colder than hell, hope youâre doinâ well, Josephine
Thereâs a fever in camp and our boys are too sick to fight
We done lost old Calvin, Beaver wonât make it through the night
I hope I heard the captain say itâs the worst heâs ever seen
Iâm losinâ some weight but Iâm still standinâ up straight, Josephine
Tell my children I miss âem and wigh I could kiss âem once more
Bet theyâve grown a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell mama and daddy Iâm alright and just want one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
Thereâs three thousand union troops camped at the river below
Thereâs six hundreds of us, least there was two nights ago
When Erwin deserted they hung him down by the tree
God Iâm so scared, keep me in your prayers, Josephine
Well the orders come down, weâll attack tonight at nightfall
If we can stop them right here we can win this war once and for all
You know, I killed a union boy last week, bet he wasnât fourteen
He looked just like our son, forgive me for what Iâve done, Josephine
Tell my children I miss âem and wigh I could kiss âem once more
Bet theyâve grown a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell mama and daddy Iâm alright and just want one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
And lastly my darling, in case I should be killed
Donât breathe me too long, promise me that you will
Marry another, donât let him treat our babies mean
When heâs holding you, would you think of me too, Josephine?
Tell my babies I miss âem and wigh I could kiss âem once more
Bet theyâve grown a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell mama and daddy Iâm alright and just want one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine