Play - I’m Almost Home

I’m Almost Home – Steve Gulley
(Steve Gulley, Tim Stafford)
Gulley’s Curve Music BMI/Daniel House Music BMI

“In times of peace, sons bury fathers. In times of war, fathers bury sons.” – Herodotus

Theodrick “Tod” Carter was the tenth child of Fountain and Mary Carter and grew up in the quiet village of Franklin, Tennessee. In the Spring of 1861, Tod left a promising law career to follow his older brother into the Confederate Army. Tod’s love of adventure led him to thrive in the army, and he quickly became Captain Carter. In 1864, Tod found himself only a few miles from home. Energized by the thought of seeing his family, Carter volunteered to lead the 20th Tennessee Infantry in a charge toward the Union lines entrenched just south of Franklin, shouting “follow me boys, I’m almost home!” Tod was mortally wounded in the battle yards from his doorstep. His father found him, and after three years away from home, he died in his front parlor surrounded by his family.

Song Lyrics

The tenth child born in the early spring, never wanted for much of anything
Most of his life had things his way, ’til black and white turned blue and gray
A volunteer soon deployed, just another sandy haired rebel boy
Tennessee born and bred, southern blood gladly shed

A thousand miles and a thousand days
Brought him back here to this place
Where once in simpler times he roamed
“Follow me boys, I’m almost home!”

Heard the news from John Bell Hood, the federal boys are up to no good
Dug in deep on Columbia Pike, Won’t give it up without a fight
He jumped up on his dapple gray, volunteered to lead the fray
With sabre high and a rebel yell, c’mon boys, let’s give ’em hell

Huddled in the basement there, sound of cannons filled the air
Never once did it cross their minds, their youngest son on the field they’d find
From this world of sorrow torn, in the very house where he was born
As his father said, “You’ve done your best,” he drifted off and took his rest

CHORUS: (Repeat)