In july 1863
a nation torn in tragedy
a trick of fate, two great armies merge
gods of war at gettysburg
devastation lies ahead
50,000 bodies litter the land
hell rages three full days
the reaper sows, thereand's the devil to pay
The pressureand's on and the reband's attack
the yanks must hold, they canand't fall back
just two brigades, 2000 strong
against 20,000 they canand't hold long
General reynolds makes his way
expect no mercy from the iron brigade
until he shows theyand're on their own
but bufordand's men have a will of stone
Bayonets gleam in the morning sun
smoke and fire belching from their guns
another volley and again they strike
thousands more cominand' down chambersburg pike
This tragedy and what it brings
all the devastation
the reaper has his way
men will kill, blood will spill
to preserve the nation
thereand's the devil to pay
South of town down the emmitsburg road
the first corps are starting to show
for bufordand's men, theyand're here just in time
the desperate need to strengthen the line
Bodies dropping the blue and the grey
muskets fire and cannon blaze
the union fights defending the town
but theyand're outnumbered and losing ground
From the north and the west more rebels arrive
thousands more and the fight multiplies
mcphearsonand's ridge and the black hats strike
a rebel sharpshooter takes reynoldsand' life
This tragedy and what it brings
all the devastation
the reaper has his way
men will kill, blood will spill
to preserve the nation
thereand's the devil to pay
Attack, attack, general lee gives command
theyand're overwhelmed, the situation demands
the federals retreat and rush out of town
but they have fortified and saved the high ground
The day ends in victory for the south
leeand's as convinced as godand's will is profound
they are invincible and their cause is just
but longstreet is cautious and lacking in trust
Across the way the union digs in
the round tops, cemetery ridge and out to culps hill
their lines are strong, no denying theyand'll stay
when the confederates strike
thereand'll be the devil to pay
This tragedy and what it brings
all the devastation
the reaper has his way
men will kill, blood will spill
to preserve the nation
thereand's the devil to pay
