This song begins in the pre-dawn hours of the 3rd and final day of the battle of Gettysburg.
These battle worn soldiers experienced the death of more than 30,000 of their comrades the two days prior and are keenly aware of the horrors of war they will experience as soon as the sun provides enough light to re-engage.
As the heat of the battle and the sounds, and smell of war diminish into the end of the day, the living are left to assess and address the carnage. In this moment of coming to terms with the magnitude of the loss, one soldier confides to another – “The Dead Are the Lucky Ones”!
The Dead Are The Lucky Ones
Battle lines are clearly drawn
The sun is waiting for the dawn
A hush falls on those gathered here
Before hell falls and confirms their fears
Shadows move in the twilight
Powder burns the end of the night
A smokey fog and bullets fly
The brave bleed, fight and die
Now I hold a bloody hand
And I say a prayer with a dying man
I overhear a soldier say
To another on his grave
The dead are the lucky ones
The dead are the lucky ones
The dead are the lucky ones
Rest in peace
As the sun sinks in the earth
It’s another day and another birth
If I looked you in the eye
Would you blink and do you cry?
Musicians:
Scott Schultz: Producer, Engineer, Drums
Kevin Troyer: Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals
Rob Muzick: Electric Guitars
Johnny Stanton: Bass
Josh Schultz: Keys & Organ
Jim Ed Hodges: Fiddle
Carissa Eldridge: Background Vocals
Mastered by: Scott Schultz
All Tracks recorded at Raindrop Studios, Nashville Tennessee
All lyrics ©Kevin Troyer & recordings ©7th Rest Publishing