Classic Poem

Oh, come and listen to my story,
Concerning that fierce, bloody fight;
Between the Fitch and Austin families,
Dear Lord, it was an awful sight.

It was the fourth day of December,
At five o'clock as dusk drew nigh;
On George's Creek in Lawrence County
In old Kentucky hills so high.

The trouble started when the Austins
Went down the telephone to mend;
And Fitches 'lowed the Austins trespassed
And said their own they would defend.

The Austins had their pistols loaded,
They surely went prepared to fight;
The Fitch boys did not have a weapon
But stood their ground with all their might.

And when they saw there must be trouble,
Poor Homer grabbed an ax close by;
And Reck, he found a broken shotgun,
He said, “Come on, we'll do or die.”

The bullets flew and blood was flowing,
Poor Homer staggered, then he fell;
His fair, young body bullet-riddled,
Dear Lord, it is so hard to tell.

Poor Reck, he knew that death was certain,
He saw his brother on the ground;
That brave young boy, he was no coward,
He fought until they shot him down.

Come men and boys of old Kentucky,
Take warning from these boys' sad fate;
Let family troubles be forgotten,
Or you'll regret it when too late.