Sue Mundy
Wishing Chair Lyrics

Thirteen steps up to my grave no more the black flag will I wave
I recognize my wrongdoings and vow to never continue down that path as I face my inevitable death.

Preacher tells me I’ve been saved calling me Sue Mundy
Despite my past actions, I have found redemption in religion and am now known as Sue Mundy.

Marcellus Clarke is my true name Simpson County’s pride and shame
My true identity is Marcellus Clarke, a citizen of Simpson County who brings both pride and shame to the community.

Raising horses, hemp and slaves a son of old Kentucky
As a Kentuckian, I come from a background where raising horses, hemp, and slaves was commonplace.

The Orphan Grey I did put on captured at Fort Donaldson with my pardon I walked home just a poor Civilian but Brainbridge called in marshall law for every Federal dead now he’d hang four
I was able to secure the release of a Confederate soldier named Orphan Grey, but General Burnbridge declared martial law and threatened to hang four Confederates for every Federal soldier who died.

Whispering behind their doors there goes a rebel soldier
People talk behind my back, referring to me as a rebel soldier.

So I took to murder then stealing horses, robbing men burning wagons, bending rails We were always hungry Lord give me corn and give me beans faster horses and the means To kill the Yankees as I please and take back my good country
In order to fight against the Union and reclaim what I believed was rightfully mine, I resorted to drastic and violent measures such as murder, robbery, and destruction of Union property.

When I was younger, fancy free I dressed in ladies finery To make a proud girl notice me the boys called me Sue Mundy
As a young man, I dressed in women's clothing to gain the attention of a particular girl, and the boys nicknamed me Sue Mundy as a result.

When George Prentis heard this name he thought to bring the Yankees shame He wrote that a guerrilla band was lead by a girl, Sue Mundy
Upon hearing my nickname Sue Mundy, George Prentis attempted to discredit the Confederacy by claiming that a female was leading their guerrilla band.

The Federals then pressed us hard and trapped us in a farmers barn I surrendered as a prisoner of war they said you’ll hang, said you’ll hang, said you’ll hang Sue Mundy
The Union relentlessly pursued our group and cornered us in a barn, where I ultimately surrendered as a prisoner of war and was condemned to hang.

Retribution, sacrificial lamb no defense witness took the stand Twelve thousand heard the band play the Dead March for Sue Mundy
I acted as a scapegoat for the Confederacy's wrongdoings and was not given a fair trial, leading to my execution. A large crowd witnessed my death as the band played the Death March.

When I was dead they rushed the gallows looking for greenbacks in my clothes Left me naked in the bloody road and I was only twenty
After my death, people searched my clothing for money and left me naked in the street. I was only twenty years old.

Now God knows that war’s a sin sanctifying killing men No one’s righteous in the end, a song of old Sue Mundy
In hindsight, I recognize that war causes great harm and death, and that no one can be considered truly righteous in such situations. This is the story of my life, as Sue Mundy.