Mamma's Lily
Jed Marum c 2002

She was just her mama's lily
A pretty child, curious and bold
As I stood there with Michael O'Reilly
She might have been seven years old

She'd been placed high atop the piano
And arranged there with love and with care
By an African servant, her nanny
Cutting locks of the little girls hair
There were tear soaked locks of her hair

CHO:
There's a hard cold edge to the wind tonight
It's a bitter wind cuts to the bone
And cruel is the fate when its power and might
To both guilty and innocent are shown
To both guilty and innocent shown

Charlestown was easily taken
Federal Batteries had helped clear the way
When we went down to see, Michael O'Reilly and me
The rebel force had melted away

She'd been standing alone in the window
Watching soldiers retreat South and West
There was nothing to do, when the cannon ball flew
Through the window and on through her chest
Tore her arm and her heart from her breast
CHO

Now I know we must fight for the Union
What a terrible price must be paid
And to make this land free, Michael Reilly and me
Well we joined with the Irish Brigade

Now as I looked through my tears at this lily
Shattered before she could bloom
Still through death on her face
Shine her beauty and grace
Though she died from a terrible wound
No child should die from such a wound
CHO