Shaking hands and fingers that do tremble
Soldier's Joy has been a bitter pill
Though in battle, a brave man I resemble
Alone I am a coward without will
Pierce McGee from the great State of Missouri
To the Show-Me-State militia I belong
And to judge from the pride on the Confederate side
I'd say five hundred thousand rebels can't be wrong
A rebel stand is no place for a traitor
A loveless Union cannot bend us to her will
Cannot command the soldiers who now hate her
Nor demand the fealty of her generals
I took a rifle ball in my shoulder
But my entire body filled with pain
I pleaded with them all at the field hospital
"Oh, God, another shot of morphine!"
Soldier's Joy, oh what's the point in pleasure
When it's only meant to k** the pain
Lay down my arms and take the coffin's measure
Or take up arms and send me out to fight again
Shaking hands...was I a coward, was I brave?
With shaking hands... I took the bitter pill
Tell the story on my grave, my soul they could not save
What the bullet would not k**, the needle will