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lyrics

My great-granddaddy in black and white
just back from Tennessee
trouser leg flapping in the breeze
from a minnie ball in the knee
they say he'd stare into the fire
and tear out his own hair
from what he'd seen at Franklin
and the things that he did there

oh Frankin Tennessee
Why you still scaring me?
Frankin Tennessee
won't you leave me be

Hood ordered them across that field
two miles of open ground
silently they closed up ranks
as the Yankees shot them down
some reached a salient in the front
and it was hand to hand
from the view of 150 years
who among us understands?

oh Frankin Tennessee
Why you still scaring me?
Frankin Tennessee
won't you leave me be

They say that morphine dulled his pain
and drink dulled all the rest
and that all learned to be frightened
when he bellowed from his breast
family turned to rebels
and friends to bounty men
then he'd hang his head in shame
and do it all again

oh Frankin Tennessee
Why you still scaring me?
Frankin Tennessee
won't you leave me be

So the glory was in Gettysburg
where Pickett made his name
by losing his division
to a massed wall of flame
but more men fell at Franklin
and it went on and on
minutes into hours
until near everyone was gone

He died by his own hand
in 1884
he traveled back to Frankin
and laid on the killing floor
said he wanted to see the other side
where the glory it remains
so he put on his blue uniform
and put a bullet in his brain

oh Frankin Tennessee
Why you still scaring me?
Frankin Tennessee
won't you leave me be

What hell's do we create on earth
when men they die and kill
old men in photo albums
and young ones forever still
far away from their homes
and the love awaiting there
duty and other's bidding
another unanswered prayer

oh Frankin Tennessee
Why you still scaring me?
Frankin Tennessee
won't you leave me be
oh Frankin Tennessee
Why you still scaring me?
Frankin Tennessee
won't you leave me be

credits

from Civil War Battle Ballads, released December 5, 2008

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Tom Flannery Scranton, Pennsylvania

"One of the most gifted songwriters to emerge at the turn of the century"
-- The All Music Guide

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