Jackknife living
out in the fields
Buried there at the foot of
the Virginia hills
He's better off he's standing still
Oh there was a time
Done some chores back in the day
Cut some rope and whittled away
He killed a man, he's a shame to see
Now he's cryin' in the fields
I don't want to kill nobody
I don't want to kill nobody
I don't want to feel like jackknife anymore.
When young Charles Consett
was called to war,
he bought some beads in a Bible store.
He wasn't sure what he was praying for,
he was praying anyway.
And the en emy was a young boy,
14 years old,
shivering scared out in the cold.
Charles raised his gun and let it fold,
and the boy just ran away.
I don't want to kill nobody.
I don't want to kill nobody.
I don't want to feel like jackknife anymore
The colonel sat in a
straight -backed chair
and Charles, Ma, and Pa were there
The sentence was what they feared
Let the muskets fire away."
His mama cried,
his dad clenched his teeth
when they asked Charles
if he wanted to speak.
He fumbled with his beads
and rose from his seat
and said he was sorry
he brought shame to his
family and his country
by going over the hill.
13 offices of the 123rd Illinois,
including a regimental
and company commander,
petitioned the highest office
that Charles Sendspeak commuted.
And on September 24, 1864,
President Lincoln,
in response to what they were asking for,
gave the order to open the stockade door
and let Charles go free.
I don't want to kill nobody
I don't want to kill nobody
I don't want to feel like
Jack Knife anymore
Jackknife livin' out in the fields
Buried there at the foot
of the Virginia hills
He's better off, he's standin' still
So there was a time
He done his chores back in the day
Cut some rope and whittled away
And he killed a man,
he's a shame to say
He's cryin' in the fields
I don't wanna kill nobody
I don't wanna kill nobody
I don't wanna feel like
Jack Knapp anymore
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