G C G D I was just a little boy in elementary school G C English and Math and Science class G D G Learning the golden rule G C I learned how to add and how to subtract G D How to multiply and divide G C I learned about bugs and I learned about plants G D G And I learned how to read and write G C G D But my most favorite class of all was my last class of the day G C G D G When my history teacher would tell us tales of old times long gone away G C G I was amazed at the way she knew all the people and their names and the D places and the dates G C G D G Because when I first learned about General Lee and his Thirteen rebel states. :Tabbing: G C G D G One day she came to school with a big brown grocery bag G C She opened it up we all helped her hold her up G D G This great big X-shaped flag G C G D She said "Class, now only a fool would tell you this flag is a symbol of hate G C G D It represents the men who fought and died with pride for our Confederate G states G C G D Your assignment tonight, I want you to write, I want you to pretend G C That one of these brave men came back to life, G D G What would you say to him G C G Well the school bell rang and I thought and I thought as the bus carried me D across town G C G D G I got out my pencil and my notebook pad and this is what I wrote down G I wrote G C Mr. Confederate man, G D I'd like to shake your hand G C For giving your life for Dixieland G D G Mr. Confederate man, The next day in history class, I put my paper on the teacher's desk Then she called me up in front of everyone, because she said she liked mine the best As I walked up to the head of the class, my teacher smiled and she nodded at me Then I saw a tear roll down her cheek as I began to read I read Mr. Confederate man, I'd like to shake your hand For giving your life for Dixieland Mr. Confederate man, Played quiet: I was at home reading through the news, just the other day When I ran across my old teacher's name and I saw that she had passed away With a bitter-sweet smile I looked up at my wall, a wrinkled paper and an old wood frame Where underneath penciled words almost faded away, she had marked a great big red A Plus Mr. Confederate man, I'd like to shake your hand For giving your life for Dixieland Mr. Confederate man, I wrote Mr. Confederate man, I'd like to shake your hand For giving your life for Dixieland Mr. Confederate man...