Written, Recorded and Performed by Jeff Stachyra with Hakan Hromek / Cello, Rick Iacovelli / Hammond Organ and Mike Ricciardi / Drums
The stop-over in Memphis provides some welcome relief.
The Last Great March of the Skeleton Soldiers
Well now the story picks up where it should have left off
They went parading into town they were gonna get lost
And they drank a lot of whiskey and they danced a lot of jigs
They was all held together like a bundle of twigs
And when one would fall out they would pull him back in
They were this band of brothers who could take it on the chin
This was the last great march of the skeleton soldiers
Hey you bag o’ bones we’ll be seeing better days ahead
(Yes there’s better days ahead, my friends) Hey you bag o’ bones
Hey you bag o’ bones we’ll be seeing better days ahead
(That’s right there’s better days) I’ll drink to that and shake your hand
Right around the corner, or so they thought
They drank all they could drink and danced all they could dance
They had so much fun on their last night before heading home
And having to accountable after the war and all
Hell, they were in Memphis Tennessee
Might as well make the best of the sitch-e-ation
Before the money runs out, or the drink runs out, or the night runs out
Heading home – but tonight you can hear them singing
Hey you bag o’ bones we’ll be seeing better days ahead
(Salvation’s right around the corner) Hey you bag o’ bones
Hey you bag o’ bones we’ll be seeing better days ahead
(I’ll drink to that and drink to that) I’ll drink to that and shake your hand
Hey you bag o’ bones we’ll be seeing better days ahead
(The wait is over, the wait is over) Hey you bag o’ bones
Hey you bag o’ bones we’ll be seeing better days ahead
(Honey leave the light on I’m coming on home) I’ll drink to that and shake your hand
So they ate together and they drank together
Til the escort crew had to herd ‘em back to shore
That super structure, that wood hulled steamer a gridiron long
Where they made quite a picture
There were bayonets on rifles and a seven-foot Tennessee calvary man
From Company D
Now the story picks up where it should have left off
They went parading back on board they was heading due north
And they huddled all together in there temporary digs
They was all held together like a bundle of twigs
And when one would fall out they would pull him back in
They were this band of brothers they could take it on the chin
This was the last great march of the skeleton soldiers
