"Oh Kentucky" or "John Morgan"
©2005, Roger Judd, CaneyFork Publishing, BMI
Chorus was inspired by a poem written by a Civil War veteran, found
in an out-of-print issue of Confederate Veteran magazine, circa 1901,
re. Confederate Cavalry commander, General John Hunt Morgan, an
infameous native of Kentucky, who led several mounted raids into that
State, Ohio, and Indiana, even after Kentucky was decidedly in Federal
control
Em
John Morgan was a wealthy man
A
till Lincoln's army burned the land
G
He packed his gun and rode away
A B
and swore that he'd be back some day
Em
Oh Kentucky!
Chorus:
[ Em A ]
[ John Morgan's foot is on your shore ]
[ G Em ]
[ Oh Kentucky, Oh Kentucky ]
[ A ]
[ His hand is on your stable door ]
[ G Em ]
[ Oh Kentucky, Oh Kentucky ]
You'll see your chestnut mare no more
She's carried South, as spoils of war
He'll ride her till her back is sore
then leave her at some stranger's door
Oh Kentucky!
[Chorus]
In Tennessee he gathered guns
And Southern farmer's wayward sons
the Bluegrass, she would feel the wrath
for crossing Morgan's dark and bloody path
Oh Kentucky!
[Chorus]
G
He steals the horses that he needs
A B
and rides em back to Tennessee
Em
Oh Kentucky!