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."