In this cemetery I do wonder
Of uniform soldier that lay under
Tombstone old grey and dirty
A child boy born of 1830
And my mind drifts as I read the words
On cemetery wind laughing children voices can be heard
And life goes on and life goes on
A young boy from Vermont

Herman J. Barstow was his name
Burlington Vermont of which he came
30 years still in his infancy
He was of the 36th Illinois Infantry
1st Lt. of Company G
He traveled far and battles he did see
And life goes on and life goes on
A young boy from Vermont

Through the fields of Chickamauga Creek
And the slopes of Lookout Mountain's Peek
Many good boys Blue and Grey died that day
The ground swelled rich in blood where they lay
Musket and cannon fire like sounds of thunder
Did Herman survive it all I wonder
And life goes on and life goes on
A young boy from Vermont

The stone letters are faded, chipped and ribbed
And I read he was at Pea Ridge
Perryville was on his list
My mind fogging with thoughts of black powder mist
Yes Herman survived it all
As I stand here like a fool and ponder it all
And life goes on and life goes on
A young boy from Vermont

His headstone sits forgotten in the cedars
As Kathleen and I take his picture
Herman is long gone now as are his peers
His was a short life span of 40 years
As I walk away I think of Herman's plights
My concentration broken as two F-16s take to flight
And life goes on and life goes on
A young boy from Vermont

The evening news cast as I sit back
An American soldier was killed today in Iraq
He left a family and many friends
His blood was spilled on the desert sands
For Country and family he did defend
Lending suppressed people a helping hand
And war goes on and war goes on
He was a young boy from Vermont.