April 13, 1865 Three days on this earth
My name is Hannah Reynolds
I live here in Virginia
I cook and do the housework
I am a slave
My master Doctor Coleman
Lives west of Appomattox
He treats me well and kindly
I am his slave
And the war came to the east
from Manassas to Petersburg
They sent their boys to die
600,000 and more we heard
While we lived a peaceful life
My name is Hannah Reynolds
My husband he lives with me
I cook he does the hard work
We are both slaves
And the war came to our town
cannon fire pierced the evening light
The bayonets gleaming in the air
We could hear the rebel battle cry
Now we lived a life of fear
And the war came to our road
At dawn on the ridge across the field
union horses took their place
Through fog and smoke we heard the rebels yield
April 10 Lee's surrender day
My master Dr. Coleman
Heard the guns firing
Left with his wife and daughter
But not with his slaves
And the war came to our house
Men running round with shouts and commands
The shot went through the door
It hit me and I tumbled down
Lying on the cleanest floor
My name is Hannah Reynolds
The soldiers could not heal me
Doctors treated me so kindly
Was I still a slave?
My name is Hannah Reynolds
I died near Appomattox
but three days upon this earth
I was no slave
