Way back many years ago Way back many years ago Once upon a springtime of 1861 The country was divided now The country was divided now Different ways of living 'cross the Mason-Dixon line Lived way down the southern way Lived way down the southern way A young boy and his mama And the home that he built There were two men knocking at the door Two men knocking at the door Looking round for a volunteer To be the drummer boy Sonny boy wants to leave his home Sonny boy wants to be a man Keep the time for the marching feet He's off the be the drummer boy Mama mama can you hear Mama mama can you hear Cannons on a distant shore There was hope for freedom and an end to war Growin' so strong in a traveling march Growin' so strong in a traveling march Richmond and to Shiloh And a field of dead and brave Buckshot thunderin' overhead Buckshot thunderin' overhead The horrors that a war can bring For a young boy's eyes to see Sonny boy done left his home Sonny boy became a man He kept the time for the marching feet He lived to be the drummer boy Mama mama don't you cry Mama mama don't you cry Your son is surely a hero Thank the lord if he comes home