I watch the moonlight hit her window, it weaves bright diamonds through her hair,
But I have tarried 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,
But I 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 pull 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, so there's nothing to be gained,
Perhaps my time has come for leaving, time to lay down all my defences,
And be content with having loved her, even in the distance,
For I've been blessed for having loved her, even in the distance.