Lyrics for Soldier's Joy 1864

[nigelgatherer]

Soldier's Joy by Guy Clark

Now first I thought a snake had got me it happened dreadful quick;
Was a bullet in my leg, 'n' right off I got sick.
I came to in a wagon load of ten more wounded men,
Five was dead by the time we reached that bloody tent.

Gimme some of that Soldier’s Joy, you know what I mean;
I don’t want to hurt no more my leg is turnin’ green.

Well the doctor come and he looked at me and this is what he said:
Said "Your dancin’ days are done, son, it’s a good thing you ain’t dead."
An' he went to work with a carvin’ knife, sweat fell from his brow;
‘Bout killed me tryin’ to save my life when he cut that lead ball out.

Give me some of that Soldier’s Joy, ain’t you got no more?
Hand me down my walkin’ cane I ain’t cut out for war.

Well, red blood run right through my vein, run all over the floor;
An' run right down his apron strings like a river out the door.
An' he handed me a bottle, said, "Son, drink deep as you can!"
He turned away then he turned right back with a hacksaw in his hand.

Gimme some of that Soldier’s Joy, you know what I like;
Bear down on that fiddle boys, just like Saturday night.

Gimme some of that Soldier’s Joy, you know what I crave;
I’ll be hittin’ that Soldier’s Joy till I’m in my grave.

It's a good song, but it's fairly modern, I think, and has little relation to the original dance tune.