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Lyrics

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

chorus
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

chorus

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?

chorus

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

chorus

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

lyrics by Wm. Jolliff, tune adapted from "The Johnson Boys," trad. © 1999 Wm. Jolliff

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