Story Behind The Song

Twin brothers join opposite sides and meet at Antietam, Sept. 1862. Antietam was the bloodiest single day battle of the Civil War. More casualties happened there than D-Day in WW11.

Lyrics

born in the Mississippi delta
was the spring of '45
huntin and fishin
glad to be alive

16 years blows by like the wind
brought a violent hurricane
felt the call like writin on the wall
he went north and i remained

we never needed a cause kept runnin
we was just like each other
my eyes gray my brother's were blue
no more places to hide prepared to die
facin each other
we believed what they told us was true
til i saw my steel blade shine through ya
there at Antietam

Stonewall stood like a giant could
Federals held the land
towns we'd been i was lookin for my kin Cedar Mountain to Washington
7 long days in the Valley i claim put years upon our heads
1 day singin and rejoicin the next day you're lyin dead

we never needed a cause kept runnin
we was just like each other
my eyes gray my brother's were blue
no more places to hide prepared to die
facin each other
we believed what they told us was true
til i saw my steel blade shine through ya
there at Antietam

oh my brother lost & found
planted firmly in this hallowed ground

so many years, trials and fears
memories linger on
courage fades, medals rust away
my time is almost done

so long ago nothing much to know
we just whiled away our days
late last night i heard my brothers voice
i swore i saw his face

we never needed a cause kept runnin
we was just like each other
my eyes gray my brother's were blue
no more places to hide prepared to die
facin each other
we believed what they told us was true
til i saw my steel blade shine through ya
there at Antietam