I watch the moonlight hit her window. It weaves bright diamonds through her hair But I have taried in these shadows, In hopes she will not see me here I don't know what I've been thinking, I should move on to other business I've promised I would be strong, And only watch her in the distance I know the war claimed her young husband, And so her life's been mighty rough And she doesn't need more sorrow, I have given her enough So I will try to keep my mind off My poor aching heart's insistence She must learn to live without me, So I'll just watch her in the distance I recall the fight in Franklin, A Yankee bullet laid me down That night, I watched her in the graveyard Where they put me in the ground That's when I heard the angels calling And felt the pul of love's resistance So the Good Lord let me linger So I could watch her in the distance If I wrapped cold arms around her, If I gently spoke her name She couldn't bare my haunted whisper, And so there's nothing to be gained Perhaps my time has come for leaving, Time to lay down all my defenses And be content with having loved her Even in the distance For I've been blessed for having loved her Even in the distance.