The sun shown bright and clear that day

We all left Washington

To lick the Rebel boys in grey 

At the Battle of Bull Run

They came from Pennsylvania and some from Maryland

To see the Rebel boys get spanked by Honest Abe's broad hand



We said we'll run ‘em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia

And Philadelphia



The ladies wore their brightest shawls

The gentlemen were gay

They came to see their Yankee boys WHIP old Virginia

I held my momma's hand and skipped

When a soldier said to me

Would you rather have Jeff Davis' hat or the sword of Bobbie Lee



We said we'll run ‘em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia

And Philadelphia



And then the general doffed his hat and said let's rest a spell

And for the first time we all heard that awful rebel yell

The waters of MANASSAS creek became a ruby red

and many a Reb and Yankee boy lay in the willows dead



We said we'll run ‘em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia

And Philadelphia



A fight locked in the chest of time too horrible to tell

Virginny's true green countryside became a lake of hell

Don't count your chicks before they're hatched

Or you'll work until it's done

Remember yes remember long the Battle of Bull Run



We said we'll run ‘em to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay

But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia

And Philadelphia