The sun shown bright and clear that day
We all left Washington
To lick the Rebel boys in grey
At the Battle of Bull Run
They came from Pennsylvania and some from Maryland
To see the Rebel boys get spanked by Honest Abeâs broad hand
We said weâll run âem to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay
But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia
And Philadelphia
The ladies wore their brightest shawls
The gentlemen were gay
They came to see their Yankee boys WHIP old Virginia
I held my mommaâs hand and skipped
When a soldier said to me
Would you rather have Jeff Davisâ hat or the sword of Bobbie Lee
We said weâll run âem to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay
But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia
And Philadelphia
And then the general doffed his hat and said letâs rest a spell
And for the first time we all heard that awful rebel yell
The waters of MANASSAS creek became a ruby red
and many a Reb and Yankee boy lay in the willows dead
We said weâll run âem to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay
But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia
And Philadelphia
A fight locked in the chest of time too horrible to tell
Virginnyâs true green countryside became a lake of hell
Donât count your chicks before theyâre hatched
Or youâll work until itâs done
Remember yes remember long the Battle of Bull Run
We said weâll run âem to Atlanta and to Galveston Bay
But they ran us back to Washington and Philadelphia
And Philadelphia