i've jist bin down at the corner, mother,

to see the boys in line,

dressed up in their bran' new uniforms,

i tell you they looked fine.

and as they marched past whar i stood,

to the rattle of the drum,

it made me think of those other boys

who marched in sixty-one.

the old flag wuz proudly wavin', mother,

jist as it did one day

when you stood thar to say good-bye,

and watch me march away.

so i stood thar and watched them

till the parade wuz nearly done,

but thar wasn't many thar to-day

who marched in sixty-one.

and thar wuz my old captain

and the colonel side by side,

and as they both saluted me

i jist sot down and cried.

and i thought about some other boys

whose work has long bin done;

soon thar won't be any left at all

who marched in sixty one.

i heered the band play dixie,

and my old heart swelled with pride,

a-thinkin' of the boys in gray

who marched on the other side.

and when my time it comes, mother,

the lord's will it be done,

i hope he'll take me to the boys

who marched in sixty-one.