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Shiloh
Standin' in the Presence of the Past

by Darryl Worley, Wynn Varble, and Don Poythress (2003)


    A mist halos the meadow
    And a soft wind breathes a whisper through the trees
    As I lean against a hickory
    I close my eyes and I can almost see
    The ghostly forms of blue and gray
    And I can almost hear the cannons blast
    Standin' in the presence of the past

    The first few waves came cheerin'
    Fear and hatred runnin' through their blood
    When the day was finally over
    Those left were wadin' through a crimson flood
    To think I could be right here
    In the spot where some young soldier breathed his last
    Standin' in the presence of the past

    Brother fightin' brother
    Father fightin' son
    By the time the sun was settin'
    Looked like the South had won
    Now my mouth's as dry as cotton
    And my heart is beatin' fast
    Standin' in the presence of the past

    Sunrise caught the Rebels sleepin'
    And they woke to hear a Yankee bugle blow
    Bullets flew like angry hornets
    Till the peach tree blossoms drifted down like snow
    It must have been like Hell on earth
    What happened here is more than we can grasp
    Standin' in the presence of the past

    Brother fightin' brother
    Father fightin' son
    By the time the smoke had lifted
    They knew the North had won
    Lord my soul feels empty
    As my tears fall on this grass
    Standin' in the presence of the past

    Brother killin' brother
    Father slayin' son
    From the looks of this old graveyard
    Hell, nobody really won
    Somethin's changed inside me
    It sure can happen fast
    Standin' in the presence of the past

    A mist halos the meadow
    And a soft wind breathes a whisper through the trees





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