have you heard many a story   told by old and young with joy   about the faithful deed of daring    that was done by the laughlin boy   that was done by the laughlin boy      listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie   listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie      that laughlin boy was a boy of honor   and he loved virginia well   but he would not fire a rifle   so he sat in a cold jail cell   so he sat in a cold jail cell      he was pierced and he was beaten   forty stripes he gladly bore   but he would not serve the devil   in that awful civil war   in that awful civil war      listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie   listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie      twelve grey soldiers stood before him   and they aimed their rifles true   he prayed lord, oh please forgive them   for they know not what they do   for they know not what they do      those young soldiers would not fire   they defied the general’s plan   so the army changed his sentence   who could murder such a man?   who could murder such a man?      listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie   listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie      they hauled him far away to richmond   far away from his kids and wife   there, pneumonia wracked his body   that good man soon lost his life   that good man soon lost his life      now his wife is sadly weeping   seven children wonder why   lord it seems that truth and honor   sure can come at an awful price   sure can come at an awful price      listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie   listen to me children, well i wouldn’t tell a lie      oh, have you heard many a story   told by old and young with joy   about the faithful deed of daring    that was done by the laughlin boy   that was done by the laughlin boy