Andrew Beard was his name he called Kentucky home   worked his farm with the wish that he'd be left alone   but the war closed in...it was 1861   and the race was on to shoulder a gun      Andrew Beard held firm...said "this fight is not mine..   can't tend the farm if I end up dying...   you fight your war...and I'll fight mine   gotta battle my crops..a better use of my time      Both sides would pass through...using his farm to rest   and to water their horses and to thump their war chest   Andrew Beard said "you'll be welcome again and again   as long as you all behave like men"      In 1862 some Union troops pulled in   stinking of whiskey and homemade distilled gin   One put a gun to his head said "that's a mighty fine mare"   stole Andrew Beard's horse right then and there      The recruitment posters...the political windbags   the sneers of his neighbors and the tongues that would wag   never swayed Andrew Beard..who tried not to take sides   but after losing his mare...with the rebels did he ride      There's no moral here...there wasn't many them days   you disrespect a man...you may have to pay   many a union boy was better off before..   Andrew Beard went off to fight his little war      Andrew Beard was his name he called Kentucky home   worked his farm with the wish that he'd be left alone   but the war closed in...it was 1861   and the race was on to shoulder a gun