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The Big Battle Lyrics

Artist: Johnny Cash
Album: Ring Of Fire (The Best Of Johnny Cash)

I think sir the battle is over and the young soldier laid down his gun
I'm tired of running for cover I'm certain the bottle is done
For see over there where we fought them it's quiet for they've all gone away
All left is the dead and the dying the Blue laying long side the Gray
So you think the battle is over and you even lay down your gun
You carelessly rise from your cover for you think the battle is done
Now boy hit the dirt listen to me for I'm still the one in command
Get flat on the ground here beside me and lay your ear hard to the sand
Can you hear the deafening rumble can you feel the trembling ground
It's not just the horses and wagons that make such a deafening sound
For every shot fired had an echo and every man killed wanted life
There lies your friend Jim McKenney can you take the news to his wife
No son the battle's not over the battle has only begun
The rest of the battle will cover the part that has blackened the sun
The fight yet to come's not with cannon nor will the fight be hand to hand
No one will regroup the forces no charge will a general command
The battle will rage in the bosom of mother and sweetheart and wife
Brother and sister and daughter will grieve for the rest of their lives
Now go ahead rise from your cover be thankful that God let you live
Go fight the rest of the battle for those who gave all they could give
I see sir the battle's not over the battle has only begun
The rest of the battle will cover this part that has blackened the sun
For though there's no sound of the cannon and though there's no smoke in the sky
I'm dropping the gun and the sabre and ready for battle am I

Comments/Interpretations

by turtle234 on 2/8/2009 3:48pm
i love this song thanks for the posting!

by DAVNK03091 on 4/2/2009 5:14pm
I thought this song was a lulaby. My dad would sing this to me every night before I went to sleep.

by viaMozolini on 7/18/2009 11:08am
A great underrated song of War. An American Classic written by a American Classic.

by shoredog on 9/14/2009 11:44am
Give you the shivers, doesn't it?
Cash still rocks.

by listener on 5/6/2010 8:39pm
it's a great anti-war song.

by Bob Kurtz on 1/22/2014 2:06am
One of my all time favorite songs, but the typo is over the top:

I think sir the battle is over and the young soldier laid down his gun
I'm tired of running for cover I'm certain the bottle is done