BALLAD OF '96
Demo Recording

A town was born where they buried old Joe
As a monument to him there in the stix
And in South Carolina the people all know
Why this town was named the town of 96

Well she rode poor Joe through the sun all day
Though it seemed in vain to try
But the British were planning a surprise attack
And her love was doomed to die

Through the cold cold night she continued the ride
To the hills and rivers deep
For she knew it would be a bloody fight
And attack from the north meant defeat

Well, she rode hard and long on poor old Joe
For one full day and night
Then just before dawn
She rode him to camp and shouted the alert for the fight

Then her young love held her in his arms as she cried out
Her hopes and her wishes
But the words that she tried so hard to speak
Were smothered by a hundred kisses

Then the colonel told the private that's a mighty brave horse
Walk him, and see that he's fed
But old Joe fell down in the cold wet ground
The journey was too much - he was dead

So they buried old Joe in a shallow grave
And there were tears in everyone's eyes
For he gave his life in order to save
The Yankees that were doomed to die


Submitted by Steve Purvey

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