Lyr Add: When the Master Calls the Roll

Subject: Lyr Add: When the Master Calls the Roll
From: AnneMC
Date: 15 Jan 14 - 04:32 PM

When the Master Calls the Roll by Rosanne Cash
Recent song about the Civil War . A ballad sung from the perspective of William and Marion Cash, Rosanne's ancestors.
Help with second chorus appreciated: "Take heed immortal soul"?? Is this correct?


Girl with hair of flaming red
Seeking perfect lover
For to lie down on her feather bed
Soul secrets to uncover

Must be gentle, must be strong
With disposition sunny
Just as faithful as the day is long
And careful with his money

And so the open letter read
The news boy did deliver
Three months later plans were made to wed
Down by the King James River

        And though the season may come
        Though the season may go
        What love has joined together
        Will someday be made whole
        When the master calls the roll

Oh my darling will you lead?
Take me to the altar
I don't have strength to watch you as you leave
But my love will never falter

Though my darling Marianne
The march to war is calling
Somewhere far across these southern lands
Are bands of brothers falling

My tender bride, the tides demand
That I leave you with your mother
With my father's rifle in one hand
And your locket in the other

        Though the season may come
        Though the season may go
        Beware the storm clouds gather
        Take heat immortal soul
        When the master calls the roll

But can this union be preserved?
The soldier boy was crying
And I will never travel back to her
But not for lack of trying

It's a love of one true heart at last
That made the boy a hero
But a rifle ball and a cannon blast
Cut him down to zero

Oh Virginia once I came
I'll see you when I'm younger
And I'll know you by your hills again
This time from six feet under

        Though the season may come
        Though the season may go
        What man has torn asunder
        Will some day be made whole
        When the master calls the roll

        Though the storm clouds gather
        Let the union be made whole
        When the master calls the roll

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: When the Master Calls the Roll
From: GUEST,John
Date: 15 Jan 14 - 10:37 PM

You've done a really good with this, certainly much better than all of the lyrics websites, which essentially copy and paste one another's mistakes. (For example, all of them have it transcribed as "fault her" instead of "falter").

Here's where my ears have picked up a few things different than yours:

1. "soft secrets" (vs. "soul secrets")
2. first chorus, first line: "Though..." (didn't hear the "and"... minor point), followed by    "Lo..." in the second line.
3. first chorus: "will forever be made whole" (vs. "will some day...")
4. "Oh my darling Marianne" (vs. "Though my darling Marianne")
5. second chorus, second line: "Lo..." (as above)
6. "take heed" (as you suggested)
7. "I will never travel" (minor point: didn't hear "and" lead-in)
8. "Oh Virginia, whence I came" (vs. "once I came")
9. final chorus: possibly both first and second lines begin with "Lo" (hard to tell)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: When the Master Calls the Roll
From: AnneMC
Date: 16 Jan 14 - 02:06 AM

Thanks John, that's a big help.
When Rosanne sings it live on Youtube, is when she slips in the "And.." but it isn't on the CD recording.