Farewell to you, captain, the bravest in command. Goodbye to all the soldiers who didn't give a damn
For we're goin' back to Richmond, buddy, leavin' here today. Gonna sell our rifles for a jug and get drunk along the way

'Twas in Virginia harbor Gen'ral Parker disappeared, tied sleeping soundly to a tree
How we wept as we launched him and so cheerfully we cheered as the gen'ral drifted slowly out to sea

Farewell to you, captain, the bravest in command. Goodbye to all the soldiers who didn't give a damn
For we're goin' back to Richmond, buddy, leavin' here today. Gonna sell our rifles for a jug and get drunk along the way

At the battle of Manasses, I had my certain chance to bravely fight the red and white and blue
I was so blasted brave I stuck branches in my pants and, yes, I played a tree 'til it was through

Please don't think that we are cowards. What a horrible suggestion! It's just that we don't feel that we belong
Bobby misses his dear mother, John has acid indigestion and I think I feel a migraine coming on

Farewell to you, captain, the bravest in command. Goodbye to all the soldiers who didn't give a damn
For we're goin' back to Richmond, buddy, leavin' here today. Gonna sell our rifles for a jug and get drunk along the way

Farewell to you, captain, we're goin' to leave you now