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Ma,
Ain’t much left but ghosts in them fields, Ma.
I still hear them cannons thunderin’ in my skull.
I can hear captain’s horse breathin’ in the dark 
just knows the fight is over but not done.
I can see them Indians on the ridge, Ma 
not part of our fight, 
just watchin’ like that.
I hear the tall one’s name — Courageous Deer.
I can hear his name carried on the wind.
I’m missin’ home, Ma —

Brothers divided by tailor’s hand,  
Sewn by God but torn by man.  
We load, we aim, we never know,  
Who’s wrong, who’s right, which way wars go.

Today is over, the dark comes round,  
I’m taking time to write you down

Does God want us in that ghostly ground,  
Where all those men sleep without sound.  
Soon forgotten, no more prayers,  
Names on echoes still breathing there.  
Ghostly ground, the wind still calls,  
Fade whispers from the empty souls.  
If you hear me, Ma, in the river’s song,  
Pray to God He kept me long.

My hands still shake when the night comes low,  
My vision blurs where the dark wind blows.  
If I don’t rise when the dawn light shows,  
Tell Ma I’m free where the river flows.

Today is over, the dark comes round,  
I’m taking time to write you down

Does God want us in that ghostly ground,  
Where all those men sleep without sound.  
Soon forgotten, no more prayers,  
Names on echoes still breathing there.  
Ghostly ground, the wind still calls,  
Fade whispers from the empty souls.  
If you hear me, Ma, in the river’s song,  
Pray to God He kept me long.

The sky breaks slow, the smoke drifts thin,  
The world feels warm beneath my skin.  
I thought I’d gone, but I’m still awake,  
The dawn rolls in, a breath I take.  
I made it, Ma — the Lord’s been kind,  
The sun came up, I left war behind.

Does God want us in that ghostly ground,  
Where all those men sleep without sound.  
Ghostly ground, the wind still calls,  
If you hear me, Ma, I’m comin’ home this fall