Written By: David Rhodes

There was a forced march that left many of us dead
And we all believed the general when he rode up and said,
“If I had my way boys, you’d all be dead today
You killed many of my men and for that you ought to pay”

We marched into the camp and fell upon the ground
And those that were there before us slowly gathered ‘round
They stared at us in silence then a voice said with a sigh
“I hope you’ve said your prayers boys, ‘cause this is where you’ll die”

After a week of death we knew we had to break
And later on that night we forced our way out through the gate
Me and Billy broke off from the boys in the main pack
We’d hunted all our lives and knew we’d be hard to track

We didn’t stop to rest for two long days and nights
We stayed deep inside the dark woods away from city lights
Days turned into weeks and we kept moving on
Every step we took brought us closer to our home

But bad luck and a bullet dropped Billy in his tracks
With his last breath he told me, “Go on and don’t look back”
But now they knew just where I was and quickly they closed in
And soon I lay upon the ground back in that camp again

I learned I was the last one all the rest were caught
And one by one were hung – that’s what their freedom bought
And as I stood on the scaffold before the rising sun
I asked could I be turned ‘round so I could look towards home

When suddenly came through the gate a horse and rider fast
“The war is over,” he shouted, “we’re going home at last!”
And through all the cheering I heard the general say
“You killed many of my men and for that you ought to pay.”

But the noose was taken from my neck, my hands they were cut free
The general simply nodded, then turned away from me
And I think back on that time most every single day
And cry as I remember and with every tear I pay