The Devil to Pay (July 1st, 1863) Songtext

von Iced Earth

In July 1863, A nation torn in tragedy
A trick of fate two great armies merge
Gods of war at Gettysburg
Devastation lies ahead
50, 000 bodies.litter the land
Hell raises, three full days
The reaper sows, and there's a devil to pay
The press is on and the reb's attack
They Yanks must hold, they cant fall back
Just two brigades, 2000 strong
Against 20, 000 they cant hold long
General Reynoldsmakes his way
Expect no mercy from the "Iron Brigade"
Until he shows, theyre on their own
But Buford's men have a will of stone
Bayonet's gleam in the morning sun
Smoke & fire belching from their guns
Another volley and again they strike
Thousands more coming to the site
***?
[Chorus]
The tragedy and what it brings
All the devastation...
Men will kill & blood will spill
To preserve the nation
Sound the tone 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 stregthen the line
Bodies droping, the blue & the grey
Muskets fire and the cannon blaze
The union fight, defending the town
But their outnumbered and losing ground
For they know very well as more Rebel's arrive
Thousands more and the fight multiplies
McPherson's Ridge and the Black Hand Strike
A rebel sharpshooter takes Reynold's life
[Chorus]
The tragedy and what it brings
All the devastation...
Men will kill & blood will spill
To preserve the nation
Attack! Attack!
General Lee gives command
Theyre overwhelemed, the situation demands
The Federals retreat, theyll rush out of town
But they are fortified and save the high ground
The day ends victory for the South
Lee scales defence, says God's will is profound
They are invincible and theyre cause is just
But Longstreet is cautious
And lacking in trust.
Across the way, the Union did cheer
The Round Tops Cemetary makes it hard to close in
Their lines are strong, no denying this day
When the Confederates strike, theyll be a Devil to pay
[Chorus]