Joey + Rory Josephine was released in 2012 and the lyrics and music video inspired the making of a full movie. Rory Feek had read a series of letters written by John Robison (a U.S. Civil War Confederate Soldier) to his wife back in Tennessee. Rory was touched by these letters that inspired him to write the song “Josephine”. He later recorded the song with Joey for their 2012 Album “His and Hers”.
Though we lost Joey Feek in March of 2016 to her battle with cancer, her legacy lives on via her music and wonderful family. Enjoy the music video for “Josephine” and check out the lyrics and learn more about the movie below.
Joey + Rory Josephine Music Video
Rory Feek collaborated with his friend Aaron Carnahan (who also appears in the music video) to write the screenplay for Josephine and raise the funds to shoot the film. The film project was completed in Halifax County, Virginia and was screened at film festivals as a work in progress.
A description of the film includes, “Near the end of the Civil war, a desperate young farmer’s wife enlists in the army, posing as a man. She battles the enemy, the men of her unit and her own identity in a quest to find her missing husband. Check out information about Josephine The Film.
Several women did indeed fight in the Union an Confederate armies during the civil war disguised as men. The film Josephine tells the important story of one such woman. It is not very often that a song and lyrics inspire a full movie. The lyrics really do tell a story in this case.
Joey + Rory Josephine Lyrics
I’m writin’ this letter, my darlin’, from high on the hill
We’ve been marching ten days and we’re just outside Hopkinsville
It’s been snowing all night and we ain’t got no more kerosene
It’s colder than hell, hope you’re doing well Josephine
There’s a fever in camp and our boys are too sick to fight
We done lost old Calvin, Weaver won’t make it through the night
I overheard the captain say, it’s the worst he’s ever seen
I’m losing some weight, but I’m still standing up straight Josephine
Tell my children I miss ’em and wish I could kiss ’em once more
Bet they’ve growed a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell Mama and Daddy, I’m all right and just one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
There’s three thousand Union troops camped at the river below
Six hundred of us, at least there was two nights ago
Will Irwin deserted and they hung him down by the stream
Good God, I’m so scared, keep me in your prayers, Josephine
Well the orders came down, we attack tonight at nightfall
If we can stop them right here, we can win this war once and for all
You know, I killed a Union boy last week, I bet he wasn’t fourteen
He looked just like our son, forgive me for what I’ve done, Josephine
Tell my children I miss ’em and wish I could kiss ’em once more
Bet they’ve growed a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell Mama and Daddy I’m all right and just one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
And lastly, my darling, in case I should be killed
Don’t grieve me too long, promise me that you will
Marry another and don’t let him treat our babies mean
And when he’s holding you, won’t you think of me too, Josephine?
Tell my babies I miss ’em and wish I could kiss ’em once more
Bet they’ve growed a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell Mama and Daddy I’m all right and just one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
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