Butler Brothers Lyrics - The Streets Of Baltimore - Del Mccoury Band

The Butler Brothers grew up on the Louden County Line 

As winds of war were blowin' thru the North Virginia pines 

Reuben was the baby; Zach was the eldest son 

Those boys became men too soon in 1861 

One foot on Yankee soil, one foot on the Rebel ground 

Soon Virginia split in two, just like the North & South 

Zach fought for George McClellan, Reuben with Longstreet 

And left their mama fightin' anxious teardrops on her cheek 

(chorus) 

With one hand on the Bible, and both knees on the floor 

She begs and pleads with Heaven to end this bloody war 

Surely God's heart breaks in two when He hears her pray 

"Stop the guns and call my sons away." 

Every week they posted on the county courthouse door 

The names of all the soldiers killed the week before 

She always double-checked it for names she might have missed 

And wept each time she couldn't find a Butler on the list 

(chorus) 

Brother against brother, they marched to different drums 

Until they covered Williamsburg one spring in Butler blood 

Reuben went home dressed in grey, Zach in Union Blue 

And left their Mama wearing black in 1862 

(chorus) 

Tag 

Surely God's heart breaks in two when He hears her pray 

"Stop the guns and call my sons away."