I learned this Shel Silverstein song from a guitar book here in UK in 1970s when I was teaching myself to play and sing. I know the tune and accompanying chords and I am really keen to put together the full set of lyrics correctly.

What I remember is:

Verse;         Oh hear the drums thunder they sound such a wonder
Go march off to war boys and have at your fun.
With your bangles and your spangles and your bright golden buttons,
Bright golden buttons that shine in the sun.

Chorus:       Oh the cannons are screaming, or is it my dreaming?
Young men will stumble and fall in the dust.
For the cheers turn to crying as life turns to dying
And bright golden buttons have all turned to rust.


I am pretty sure that there was another verse or more, but I no longer have the book and I have scoured the 'net (using lyrics, author, civil war music sites etc) and all the music databases I know, without any success. I have found the above portion in a Civil War medley on a CD of the Limeliters, but this just confirms the word I could already recall. Please can you help me by either confirming that this is all there was to the song or helping me locate the remaining lyrics.

Many thanks Mudcatters (man, I LOVE this site!)