High Water Mark Lyrics

[July 3rd, 1863]

[1. Cannonade/Intro]

[Instrumental]

[2. The Burden of Command]

[Lee:]
It was very close, yesterday
I thought for sure, they would break
But this attack, that I have planned
A massive strike across open land

In the center, they will break (will they break?)
But plan it well, everything's at stake
We'll hit ‘em hard, not a silent gun
Before the infantry's begun

Execute it well, we risk everything
It's in God's hands now

[Longstreet:]
General Lee, I must tell you straight
I believe this attack will fail
No fifteen thousand men ever made
Will overtake that ridge today
A mile charge over open ground
With Yankee cannon gunning us down

[Lee:]
We do our duty, we do what we must
And in my plan, you will trust (thousands die)
Execute it well, we risk everything (on this day)
It's in God's hands now

[3. The Last Full Measure]

The rebel cannon break the silence
One hundred fifty guns make up their cannonade
They must destroy the Union Center
Before the infantry can launch their grand assault

The Yankees are returning fire
(The Earth shakes violently)
In Washington D.C. Lincoln feels the earth shake

What happens here this day
The fate of this nation
In the balance it will hang
Consumed with the pain

The courage of the blue
The valor of the grey
So very sad but true
Consumed with the pain

The Virginians are the chosen
In wait behind the trees on Seminary Ridge
Longstreet's slow to give the orders
The lines emerged a mile, fifteen thousand men

The charge begins in all its grandeur
(To the copse of trees)
For many of these men they know it is their last

The slaughter now ensues
Bodies fall like rain
They valiantly pursue
Yet doomed to remain

At the double quick they charge
The canister rips through them
To the mouth of hell they march
Glory, the only gain

[4. Charge!]

[Armistead:]
We're almost there my boys
I've never served with finer
We must push forward boys
And bayonet the Yankee tyrants

To the copse of trees we charge
To crush the Union Center
And when they turn and run
An open road leads us to freedom

[5. The Melee]

[Lee:]
It's over now we are retreating
I never thought that we'd be beaten
All this blood is on my hands
The thousands dead due to my plan

I am responsible, all of it is my fault
I thought us invincible
Is this God's will, after all?
I look across this blood soaked land

All this blood is on my hands
God forgive me, please forgive me
It's all my fault!
The blood is on my hands!