There was a Yankee colonel
In eighteen sixty-two
Who fell in love with a southern belle
Where the sweet magnolias bloom
He wondered why folks laughed at him
When he went riding' by
But little did he know that she was
a-courtin' on the sly
(Chorus)
Joe's been a-gittin' there, Joe's been a-flyin'
Joe's been a-gittin' there, all this time
Joe's been a-gittin' there, Joe's been a-flyin'
Joe's been a-gittin' there, beating his time
He walked her up the mountain
He named it to her there
He offered her a band of gold
And his name to share
She said that she would marry him
And even set the day
But little did he know that she loved
A soldier boy in grey
(Chorus)
She took the love he offered
She took his silver too
She took every little thing
From the colonel dressed in blue
She wouldn't let him hold her
In a fond embrace
And when he tried to kiss his bride
She laughed right in his face
(Chorus)
He woke up one morning
And found himself alone
And all she left was a letter that said
Goodbye, farewell, I'm gone
He might have been a mighty man
With a hero's tale
But all is fair in love and war
And he lost his southern belle
(Chorus)