From this day on I own my father's gun We dug his shallow grave beneath the sun I laid his broken body down below the southern land It wouldn't do to bury him where any Yankee stands I'll take my horse and I'll ride the northern plain To wear the colour of the greys and join the fight again I'll not rest until I know the cause is fought and won From this day on until I die I'll wear my father's gun I'd like to know where the riverboat sails tonight To New Orleans well that's just fine alright `Cause there's fighting there and the company needs men So slip us a rope and sail on round the bend As soon as this is over we'll go home To plant the seeds of justice in our bones To watch the children growing and see the women sewing There'll be laughter when the bells of freedom ring