Oh, the war, the war,
Oh, the war, the war,
Oh, the war—
With pools of gory, dripping grime,
And ghastly, beastly, horrible rime,
The soldier bloody, stiff and stark—
The cannon thunders, hark! hark!
Columbia, how's the war?
II.
Oh, the blood, the blood,
Oh, the blood, the blood,
Oh, the blood—
Curdling, welling, staining the ground,
Bubbling from wounds with sick'ning sound;
The life gone out in a wind of swords,—
Murderers leagued in hordes! hordes!
Columbia, how's the blood?
III.
Oh, the roar, the roar,
Oh, the roar, the roar,
Oh, the roar—
Thousands grappling, tearing to death,
Fever, madness and hell in a breath;
Rage, despair, oath and scream—
Rivers crimson stream! stream!
Columbia, how's the roar?
IV.
Oh, the blaze, the blaze,
Oh, the blaze, the blaze.
Oh, the blaze,
Homes in flames, lighting the storm,
Torches for death in a brother's form;
Ruin, ravage, ashes and smoke,—
Hopes and heart-strings broke! broke!
Columbia, how's the blaze?
V.
Oh, the groan, the groan,
Oh, the groan, the groan,
Oh, the groan—
Mothers sonless, homeless and old,
Sisters brotherless, lone and cold,
Children starving, wailing for bread,—
Fathers and brothers dead! dead!
Columbia, how's the groan?