Sumter Cannons

Workin' down, that's what they do all day is work the ground,
and cry the wailing sound of slaves.
Oh, master now, they call him Cain.
He's taking, he's making. The land is his to gain.

Curse the ground. Because of evil deeds a curse came down.
The curse destroyed the land of Cain.
Oh, labor now, their tears and pain,
it's growing, it's flowing, it floods and stains the ground.

I got a job to do and I'm gunna' do it.
Surely my God will see, it's only fair.
Staking my claim, let the angles defend it.
I'm not to blame and I don't really care.

Abel too, Cain had a younger brother Abel who
lived in Northern lands afar
where Wide Awakes, with shining capes
were marching, proclaiming, let freedom reign today.

Abel took, he took the Union side and bravely stood
a hero in the history books.
Oh, as for Cain, he hoped in vain
his kingdom was falling like ashes scorched by flame.

Sumter cannons do you hear?
Hate is lurking very near.
Sumter cannons do you hear?
Hate is lurking very near.

I got a job to do and I'm gunna' do it.
Surely my God will see, it's only fair.
Staking my claim, let the angles defend it.
I'm not to blame and I don't really care.

Anger now, it burns and fills his mind with anger how
his younger brother made him mad.
Yah, holding tight, and short of sight,
a flicker, now fading, now cold and dark as night.

Then the sin. He took his brother and he murdered him.
He killed his brother in the field.
Oh, now the blood, the ground cries out.
It's calling. It's calling. The ground is filled with blood.

Sumter cannons do you hear?
Hate is lurking very near.

I got a job to do and I'm gunna' do it.
Surely my God will see, it's only fair.
Staking my claim, let the angles defend it.
I'm not to blame and I don't really care.