A mist halos the meadow
and a soft wind breathes a whisper through the trees
as I lean against a hickory I close my eyes and I can almost see
the ghostly forms of blue and gray
and i can almost hear the cannons blast
Standing in the presence of the past

The first few waves came cheering
fear and hatred came running through their blood
When the day was finally over
those left were wading through a crimson flood
To think I could be right here
in the spot where some young solidier breathed his last
standing in the presence of the past

Brother fighting brother
father fighting son
by the time the sun was setting
looked like the south had won
now my mouth's as dry as cotton
and my heart is beating fast
standing in the presence of the past

sunrise caught the rebels sleeping
and they woke to hear a yankee bugle blow
bullets flew like angry hornets
till the peach tree blossoms drifted down like snow
it mut have been like hell on earth
what happened here is more than we can grasp
standing in the presence of the past

brother fighting brother
father fighting son
by the time the smoke had lifted
they knew the north had won
lord my soul feels empty
as my tears fall on this grass
standing in the presence of the past

Brother killing brother
Father slaying son
from the looks of this old graveyard
hell nobody really won
somethings changed inside me
it sure can happen fast
Standing in the presence of the past

A mist halos the meadow and a soft wind