Story Behind The Song

I visited Gettysburg and like most people was overwhelmed by the emotion of it all. There is a painting named Fury At The Wall that is a representation of Picket's Charge. The failure of that charge on the third day of the battle changed the momentum of the Civil War. I wrote the song about that battle trying to be fair to both sides.

Song Description

General Robert E. Lee thought that if he could win at Gettysburg the north would give up and let the south go their way. The idea was that the people of the north could not bear the south winning on their soil and would not vote Lincoln back in. The charge on the third day was led by a general named Pickett. Another general - James Longstreet - told Lee the charge would likely fail but Lee ordered it anyway. Unknown to Lee, the north had strengthened their troupes overnight. this song is about Pickett's Charge.

Lyrics

Fury At The Wall

Music and Lyrics by Jim Krochka


Fury at the wall
The charge did stall
Many brave men will never fight again
July 3rd a long time ago
Longstreet said it would be so
Said it would be so
It was a hot summer's day after fierce
Battles were fought with no winner announced
Mr. Lee saw a way to end the war
The Union must be trounced
Must be trounced
Pickett was the man to lead on that
Woeful day, that woeful day
Artillery was fired = Cemetary Hill was the goal - the troops started to roll
Bravely the men fought - there would be no foxhole
Fury at the wall
The charge did stall
Many brave men will never fight again
July 3rd a long time ago
Longstreet said it would be so
Said it would be so
Who should go, who should stay?
Some very tired troups led the way
Over open fields they advanced
Bullets flew but the troops were entranced, were entranced
Fury at the wall
The charge did stall
Many brave men will never fight again
July 3rd a long time ago
Longstreet said it would be so
Said it would be so
Copyright 2012, Jim Krochka