On April 2nd 1865, confederate forces evacuated their capital, Richmond Virginia Within a matter of weeks the civil war ended, with thousands of men, good men, death on the other side of the conflict. Some men fought because they wanted to, other men fought because they needed to. This is the story of a man who fought because he had to. April 2nd 1865 the smoke from Richmond burnin' filled the skies Yankee bluecoat, rebel graves where old men cried and good men died When the devil laught that day On the southern side of heaven Hear the rush of angel wings Come to carry Johnny home, now his marching days are gone Carve his stone, let his soul rest in peace On the southern side of eternity A soldiers rifle don't fit a farmers hands That are used to plowing fields and clearing land Never had no money, never owned a slave But they still burn my crops of wood my brother in the grave On the southern side of heaven Hear the rush of angel wings Come to carry Johnny home, now his marching days are gone Carve his stone, let his soul rest in peace On the southern side of eternity Above the fray I heard it comin' The shop had robbed me to my knees When a dying soldier prays does the lord see blue or gray I could hear it as my spirit found it's ways The southern side of heaven's calling me