A mist halos the meadow and a soft wind

Breathes a whisper through the trees

As I lean against a hickory I close my eyes and I can almost see

The ghostly forms of blue and gray

And I can almost hear the cannons blast

Standin' in the presence of the past



The first few waves came cheerin'

Fear and hatred runnin' through their blood

When the day was finally over

Those left were wadin' through a crimson flood

To think I could be right here

In the spot where some young soldier breathed his last

Standin' in the presence of the past



Brother fightin' brother

Father fightin' son

By the time the sun was settin'

Looked like the South had won

Now my mouth's as dry as cotton

And my heart is beatin' fast

Standin' in the presence of the past



Sunrise caught the rebels sleepin' and they woke

To hear a Yankee bugle blow

Bullets flew like angry hornets

Till the peach tree blossoms drifted down like snow

It must have been like hell on earth

What happened here is more than we can grasp

Standin' in the presence of the past



Brother fightin' brother

Father fightin' son

By the time the smoke had lifted

They knew the North had won

Lord my soul feels empty

As my tears fall on this grass

Standin' in the presence of the past



Brother killin' brother

Father slayin' son

From the looks of this old graveyard

Hell nobody really won

Somethin's changed inside me

It sure can happen fast

Standin' in the presence of the past



A mist halos the meadow and a soft wind

Breathes a whisper through the trees