Dixieland

– Steve Earle

I am Kilrain and I’m a fightin‘ man
And I come from County Clare
And the Brits would hang me for a Fenian
So I took me leave of there
And I crossed the ocean in the „Arrianne“
The vilest tub afloat
And the captain’s brother was a railroad man
And he met us at the boat

So I joined up with the 20th Maine
Like I said my friend I’m a fighting man
And we’re marchin‘ south in the pouring rain
And we’re all goin‘ down to Dixieland

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And we fight for Chamberlain
‚Cause he stood right with us when the Johnnies came
Like a banshee on the wind
When the smoke cleared out of Gettysburg
Many a mother wept
For many a good boy died there, sure,
And the air smelled just like death

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And I’d march to hell and back again
For Colonel Joshua Chamberlain –
We’re all goin‘ down to Dixieland

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And I damn all gentlemen
Whose only worth is their father’s name
And the sweat of a workin‘ man
Well we come from the farms and the city streets
And a hundred foreign lands
And we spilled our blood in the battle’s heat
Now we’re all Americans

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And did I tell you friend I’m a fightin‘ man
And I’ll not be back this way again,
‚Cause we’re all goin‘ down to Dixieland