Posted on February 5, 2014 at 9:02 pm

The Old Red Hills Of Home

YOUNG SOLDIER
Fare well, my Lila
I’ll write every evening.
I’ve carved our names
In the trunk of this tree.
Fare well, my Lila
I miss you already,
And dream of the day
When I’ll hold you again
In a home safe from fear,
When the Southland is free.

I go to fight for these old hills behind me,
These Old Red Hills of home.
I go to fight for these old hills remind me
Of a way of life that’s pure
Of the truth that must endure
In a town called Marietta
In the Old Red Hills of home.

Pray on this day as I journey beyond them,
These Old Red Hills of home:
Let all the blood of the North spill upon them
‘Til they’ve paid for what they’ve wrought,
Taken back the lies they’ve taught,
And there’s peace in Marietta
And we’re safe again in Georgia
In the land where Honor lives and breathes
The Old Red Hills of Home!

Fare well, my Lila.  Fare well…

Peachtree Street.  Atlanta, Georgia.
26 APRIL, 1913.  Confederate Memorial Day.

OLD SOLDIER
Look there, my Lila,
They call me to tell it
The lives that we led
when the Southland was free.

We gave our lives for the old hills of Georgia,
The old red hills of home.
Not much survives of the old hills of Georgia,
But I close my eyes and hear
All the treasures we held dear.

OLD SOLDIER
The rushing of the Chatahoochie
The rustlin’ in the wind
And mama in the kitchen singin’
And me and Lila swingin’ in a tree
Oh, I hear it calling, calling
And I would gladly give
My good right leg again!
Again!
TOWNSMEN
The tall pines and the red clay
The blue skies and the dogwood trees
A man can grow his cotton
And his crops!
Oh, I hear it calling, calling
Still!
ALL
Again!
God bless the sight
Of the old hills of Georgia,
The old red hills of home!
(Kneel down to)
Praise those who’d fight
For the old hills of Georgia!
For those proud and valiant men,
We’ll sing “Dixie” once again-
For the men of Marietta
For the fathers of Atlanta
Who gave everything for Georgia
And the old red hills of Home!
For the brothers of Cobb County
For the patriarchs