Dm
Shaking hands and fingers that do tremble,

Soldier's Joy has been a bitter pill.
          G                       Dm
Though in battle, a brave man I resemble,
             A7             Dm
Alone I am a coward without will.



[Verse 2]
       Dm
Pierce McGee from the great State of Missouri,

To the Show-Me-State militia I belong.
       G                              Dm
And to judge from the pride on the Confederate side,
                              A7              Dm
I'd say five hundred thousand rebels can't be wrong.



[Verse 3]
        Dm
A rebel stand is no place for a traitor.

A loveless Union cannot bend us to her will.
       G                            Dm
Cannot command the soldiers who now hate her,
                      A7           Dm
Nor demand the fealty of her generals.



[Verse 4]
  Dm
I took a rifle ball in my shoulder,

But my entire body filled with pain.
  G                                       Dm
I pleaded with them all at the field hospital:
                  A7           Dm
"Oh, God, another shot of morphine!"



[Verse 5]
          Dm
Soldier's Joy, oh what's the point in pleasure?

When it's only meant to kill the pain?
            G                          Dm
Lay down my arms and take the coffin's measure?
                            A7             Dm
Or take up arms and send me out to fight again?



[Verse 6]
        Dm
Shaking hands ..was I a coward, was I brave?

With shaking hands, I took the bitter pill.
             G                                         Dm
Now tell the story on my grave, my soul they could not save,
                          A7               Dm
What the bullet would not kill, the needle will!