Verse
F C
A mist halos the meadow
F C G
And a soft wind breathes a whisper through the trees
F C
As I lean against a hickory
F C G
I close my eyes and I can almost see
Am G
The ghostly forms of blue and gray
C F
And I can almost hear the cannons blast
Dm G C
Standin' in the presence of the past
F C
The first few waves came cheerin'
F C G
Fear and hatered runnin' through their blood
F C
When the day was finally over
F C G
Those left were wadin' through a crimson flood
Am G
To think I could be right here
C F
In the spot where some young soldier breathed his last
Dm G C
Standin' in the presence of the past
F C
Brother fightin; brother
F C
Father fightin' son
F C
By the time the sun was settin'
Am C
Looked like the South had won
F C
Now my mouth's as dry as cotton
F Am
And my heart is beatin' fast
Dm G C
Standin' in the presence of the past
C F C
Sunrise caught the rebels sleepin'
F C G
And they woke to hear a Yankee bugle blow
F C
Bullets flew like angry hornets
F C G
Till the peach tree blossoms drifted down like snow
Am G
It must have been like hell on earth
C F
What happened here is more than we can grasp
Dm G C
Standin' in the presence of the past
F C
Brother fightin' brother
F C
Father fightin' son
F C
By the time the smoke had lifted
Am C
They knew the North had won
F C
Lord my soul feels empty
F Am
As my tears fall on this grass
Dm G C
Standin' in the presence of the past
F C
Brother killin' brother
F C
Father slayin' son
F C
From the looks of this old graveyard
Am C
Hell nobody really won
F C
Somethins' changed inside me
F Am
It sure can happen fast
Dm G C
Standin' in the presence of the past
F C
A mist halos the meadow
F C G
And a soft wind breathes a whisper through the trees