Mama, if you could see me now 
I’m not the boy you knew in Macon town 
They found a uniform about my size 
It’s a little big I guess, but that’s alright 
Mama, if you could see me know 

Mama, they’re treating me right well 
The men all say I brought this good luck spell 
I am the mascot of the Third Brigade 
They will not march unless I lead the way 
Mama, they’re treating me right well 

Mama, I do not have a gun 
I’m only lucky when I’m banging on my drum 
But I skinned a rabbit for the cook last night 
He said that I could keep his bowie knife 
Mama, I do not have a gun 

Mama, I lost my arrowhead 
It was big enough to strike a bobcat dead 
Must’ve fallen when I climbed that tree 
Yankee fires as far as I could see 
Mama, I lost my arrowhead 

Mama, the troops are falling in 
And we must move while we’ve still got the wind 
The scouts are fanning out like whippoorwills 
Today we’re marching over Bloody Hill 
Mama, the troops are falling in 

Mama, I never thought I’d run 
But something happened when I saw those Yankees come 
Now I’ve been running now a week or two 
Too ashamed to come back home to you 
Mama, I never thought I’d run