There was a Yankee Cornel in 1862
Who fell in Love with a southern belle where the sweet magnolias bloom
He wondered why folks laughed at him when he went ridin' by
But little did he know that she was a courtin' on the sly

Joe's been a gettin' there Joe's been a flyin'
Joe's been a gettin' there all this time
Joe's been a gettin' there Joe's been a flyin'
Joe's been a gettin' there beatin' his time

He walked her up the mountain he named it to her there
He offered her a band of gold and his name to share
She said that she would marry him and even set the day
But little did he know that she loved a soldier boy in grey

(Joe's been a gettin' there) Joe's been a flyin'
(Joe's been a gettin' there) all this time
(Joe's been a gettin' there) Joe's been a flyin'
(Joe's been a gettin' there) beatin' his time

She took the love he offered she took his silver too
She took every little thing from Cornel dressed in blue
She wouldn't let him hold her in a fond embrace
And when he tried to kiss his bride she laughed right in his face

Joe's been a gettin' there Joe's been a flyin'...

He woke up one morning and found himself alone
And all she left was a letter that said goodbye farewell I'm gone
No doubt he was a mighty man where the heroes fell
But all is fare in love and war and he lost his southern belle

.(Joe's been a gettin' there) Joe's been a flyin'...
(Joe's been a gettin' there) Joe's been a flyin'...