Johnny Horton - Johnny Reb

Johnny Reb

Johnny Horton performs "Johnny Reb"

"Johnny Reb" is a Confederate soldier's song written in 1959 by Merle Kilgore and popularized by Johnny Horton

Johnny Reb or Johnny Rebel is the national personification of the Southern states of the United States, or less generally, the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Patriots used Johnny Reb and his Union counterpart Billy Yank to symbolize the common soldiers in the American Civil War of the 1860s.

Johnny Reb is usually pictured in gray wool uniform with the typical kepi-style forage cap made of wool broadcloth with a rounded, flat top, cotton lining, and leather visor. He is often shown with his weapons and with the Confederate flag.

Johnny Horton - Johnny Reb Lyrics

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

Saw you a-marchin' with Robert E. Lee

You held your head a-high, tryin' to win the victory

You fought for your folks but you didn't die in vain

Even though you lost, they speak highly of your name

'Cause you fought all the way, Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

I heard your teeth chatter from the cold outside

Saw the bullets open up the wounds in your side

I saw the young boys as they begin to fall

You had tears in your eyes, 'cause you couldn't help at all

But you fought all the way, Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

I saw General Lee raise the sabre in his hand

Heard the cannon's roar as you made your last stand 

You marched in the battle with the gray and the red

When the cannon's smoke cleared, took days to count the dead

'Cause you fought all the way, Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

When Honest Abe heard the news about your fall

The folks thought he'd call a great victory ball

But he asked the band to play the song "Dixie"

For you Johnny Reb and all that you believed

'Cause you fought all the way, Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb 

Yeah, you fought all the way, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way, Johnny Reb