Shaking Hands (Soldier's Joy)

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 kill 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

Now tell the story on my grave, my soul they could not save

What the bullet would not kill, the needle will