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'...