They Laid Waste To Our Land

(Paul Kennerley)
White Mansions, 1978

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Lyrics sung by Caleb (Steve Cash), Matthew (John Dillon), & The Drifter (Waylon Jennings)
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they laid waste to our land, they took it from our hand

from Atlanta to Savannah, they scorched our earth

they stole our corn and wheat, they left no food to eat

they slaughtered all the cattle, took the things of worth

well, we got women and children too

just the same as you

ain't it enough just to know that you got us beat

 

the hatred will never cease, even now that there's peace

the feelings will run as deep as the scars we bear

this ain't cloth we wear it's a rag, we're at the mercy of the carpetbag

what you call justice is plain unfair

how the hell can you ever claim

it's bin worth all of the pain

just to have us live together under one flag

 they laid waste to our land, they took it from our hand

(the following is spoken by The Drifter during the rest of the verse)

On November 15, 1864, Gen. Sherman cut out the back of Atlanta with 68,000 hard worn Yankees, he drove 'em down through Georgia to the sea. With hate in their hearts, they moved in a line, cutting a scar through God's Blessed country 50 miles wide. Burning, looting and gutting our land like vultures. They tore up the railroad tracks, they burnt the cotton and the gins, Lord, they made everybody suffer.

(sung)  

oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

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Lyrics & Music: Paul Kennerley
Copyright 1978 Randor Music (London) Ltd.
Controlled in the U.S. & Canada by Irving Music, Inc. (BMI)

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Created 17 January 2003
Updated 17 January 2003

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