The Devil To Pay Songtext / Lyric

In July 1863

A nation torn in tragedy

A trick of fate, two great armies merge

Gods of war at Gettysburg



Devastation lies ahead

Fifty thousand bodies litter the land

Hell rages three full days

The reaper sows, there's the devil to pay



The pressure's on and the rebs attack

The yanks must hold, they can't fall back

Just two brigades, two thousand strong

Against twenty thousand they can't hold long



General Reynolds makes his way

Expect no mercy from the iron brigade

Until he shows they're on their own

But Buford's men have a will of stone






Bayonets gleam in the morning sun

Smoke and fire belching from their guns

Another volley and again they strike

Thousands more coming down the Chambersburg Pike



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)



South of town down the Emmitsburg road

The first corps are starting to show

For Buford's men, they're here just in time

The desperate need to strengthen the line



Bodies dropping the blue and the gray

Muskets fire and the cannon blaze

The union fights defending the town

But they're outnumbered and losing ground



From the north and the west more rebels arrive

Thousands more and the fight multiplies

McPherson's ridge and the black hats strike

A rebel sharpshooter takes Reynolds life



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)



Attack, attack, general Lee gives command

They're overwhelmed, the situation demands

The federals retreat and rush out of town

But they have fortified and saved the high ground



The day ends, victory for the south

Lee's as convinced as God's will is profound

They are invincible and their cause is just

But long street is cautious and lacking in trust



Across the way the union digs in

The round tops, cemetery ridge and out to Culps Hill

Their lines are strong, no denying they'll stay

When the confederates strike there'll be the devil to pay



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)



This tragedy and what it brings all the devastation

(The reaper has his way)

Men will kill and blood will spill to preserve the nation

(There's the devil to pay)