Us two wuz boys when we fell out,— Nigh to the age uv my youngest now; Do n't rec'lect what't wuz about, Some small deeff'rence, I'll allow.
Lived next neighbors twenty years, A-hatin’ each other, me‘ nd Jim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me, ‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.
Grew up together‘ nd would n't speak, Courted sisters,‘ nd marr'd‘ em, too; Tended same meetin’ - house oncet a week, A-hatin’ each other through‘ nd through!
But when Abe Linkern asked the West F'r soldiers, we answered,— me‘ nd Jim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me, ‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.
But down in Tennessee one night Ther’ wuz sound uv firin’ fur away, ‘ Nd the sergeant allowed ther’‘ d be a fight With the Johnnie Rebs some time nex’ day;
‘ Nd as I wuz thinkin’ uv Lizzie‘ nd home Jim stood afore me, long‘ nd slim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me, ‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.
Seemed like we knew there wuz goin’ to be Serious trouble f'r me‘ nd him; Us two shuck hands, did Jim‘ nd me, But never a word from me or Jim!
He went his way‘ nd I went mine, ‘ Nd into the battle's roar went we,— I havin’ my opinyin uv Jim, ‘ Nd he havin’ his opinyin uv me.
Jim never come back from the war again, But I ha’ n't forgot that last, last night When, waitin’ f'r orders, us two men Made up‘ nd shuck hands, afore the fight.
‘ Nd, after it all, it's soothin’ to know That here I be‘ nd yonder's Jim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me, ‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.
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