A Selection of Civil War Era Song Lyrics

Reading Instructions:
The following pages contain the full lyrics of several popular Civil War era songs. Select at least three
songs to read and then contemplate the symbolism and full lyrics.

Dixie (1859) 1
by Daniel Decatur Emmett

Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton

Old times there are not forgotten
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
In Dixie Land where I was born
Early on one frosty morn'
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
(Chorus)
I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land, I'll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
(Chorus)
His face was sharp as a butcher's cleaver
But that did not seem to grieve her
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
Old Missus acted the foolish part
And died for a man that broke her heart
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
(Chorus)
Now here's a health to the next old Missus
An all the girls that want to kiss us
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land

Old Missus marry "Will the weaver" But if you want to drive 'way sorrow
William was a gay deceiver Come and hear this song tomorrow
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land

But when he put his arm around her (Chorus)

He smiled as fierce as a forty pounder
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land

1
Originally titled, “I Wish I was in Dixie’s Land.” Also known as “Dixie’s Land” or “I Wish I Was in Dixie.”
 John Brown’s Body (1861)

John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave; (3×)

His soul is marching on!

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul is marching on!

He's gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord! (3×)

His soul is marching on!

(Chorus)

John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back! (3×)

His soul is marching on!

(Chorus)

His pet lambs will meet him on the way; (3×)

They go marching on!

(Chorus)

They will hang Jeff Davis to a sour apple tree! (3×)

As they march along!

(Chorus)

Now, three rousing cheers for the Union; (3×)

As we are marching on!
 New John Brown Song (1861)
by William Weston Patton

Old John Brown's body lies a moldering in the grave,

While weep the sons of bondage whom he ventured all to save;
But though he sleeps his life was lost while struggling for the slave,
His soul is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah! his soul is marching on!

John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true and brave,

And Kansas knew his valor when he fought her rights to save;
And now, though the grass grows green above his grave,
His soul is marching on.

(Chorus)

He captured Harper's Ferry, with his nineteen men so few,

And frightened "Old Virginny" till she trembled through and through
They hung him for a traitor, themselves a traitorous crew,
But his soul is marching on.

(Chorus)

John Brown was John the Baptist of the Christ we are to see --
Christ who of the bondmen shall the Liberator be,
And soon throughout the Sunny South the slaves shall all be free,
For his soul is marching on.

(Chorus)

The conflict that he heralded he looked from heaven to view,

On the army of the Union with its flag red, white and blue.
And heaven shall ring with anthems o'er the deed they mean to do,
For his soul is marching on.

(Chorus)

Ye soldiers of Freedom, then strike, while strike ye may,

The death blow of oppression in a better time and way,
For the dawn of old John Brown has brightened into day,
And his soul is marching on.

(Chorus)
 Bonnie Blue Flag (1861)
by Harry McCarthy

We're a band of brothers, native of the soil Now here's to brave Virginia, the Old Dominion
Fighting for our liberty, with treasure, blood, and State,
toil. With the young Confederacy at last has sealed
When first our rights were threatened, and the her fate,
cry rose near and far And spurred by her example, now other states
We raised up high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears prepare
a single star! To hoist high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a
single star.
(Chorus)
Hurrah! Hurrah! (Alternate Verse)
For Southern rights, hurrah! Now here's to Virginia, the Old Dominion State,
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that Who with the young Confederacy at length has
bears a single star! linked her fate.
Impelled by her example, let other states
As long as the Union was faithful to her trust prepare
Like friends and like brethren, kind were we, and To hoist high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a
just single star.)
But now, when Northern treachery attempts our
rights to mar (Chorus)
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears
a single star. Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise a joyous shout
For North Carolina and Arkansas now have
(Chorus) both gone out,
And let another rousing cheer for Tennessee be
First gallant South Carolina came nobly to the given,
stand For the single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag has
Then came Alabama and took her by the hand grown to be eleven.
Quickly, followed Mississippi, Georgia, and
Florida (Chorus)
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears
a single star. Then here's to our Confederacy, strong we are
and brave,
(Chorus) Like patriots of old we'll fight, our heritage to
save;
Ye men of valor gather round the banner of the And rather than submit to shame, to die we
right would prefer,
Texas and fair Louisiana join us in the fight So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a
Davis, for a President, and Stephens statesmen single star.
rare
Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a (Chorus)
single star.

(Chorus)
 Maryland, My Maryland (1861)
by James Ryder Randall
The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Hark to an exiled son's appeal,
Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day,
Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,
With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And chaunt thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
"Sic semper!" 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back again,
Maryland!
Arise in majesty again,
Maryland! My Maryland!
I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek-
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!
Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the blade, the
shot, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb-
Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! she burns! she'll come! she'll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!
 Battle Cry of Freedom (1862)
by George Frederick Root

Oh we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again,[6]
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
And we'll rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom.

(Chorus)
The Union forever, hurrah! boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors, up with the stars;
While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

Oh we're springing to the call for three hundred thousand more,[a]

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom.

(Chorus)

We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And although he may be poor, he shall never be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

(Chorus)

So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love the best,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

(Chorus)
 Dixie Doodle (1862)
by Margaret Weir

Dixie whipped old Yankee Doodle A thousand blessings on your heads,

Early in the morning, Our brave, unflinching leaders,
So Yankeedom had best look out, A light you are upon the path
And take a timely warning. Of all our brave seceders.

Hurrah! for our Dixie Land! Hurrah! for our Dixie Land!
Hurrah! for our borders! Hurrah! for our borders!
Southern boys to arms will stand, Southern boys to arms will stand,
And whip the dark marauders! And whip the dark marauders!

Yankee Doodles soundly slept Wright, on Carolina’s coast,

Upon their greasy pillows, Was e’er a hero bolder?
While Dixie boys, with muffled oars, He seized a Yankee foe, and made
Were gliding o’er the billows. A breastwork of the soldier.

Hurrah! for our Dixie Land! Hurrah! for our Dixie Land!
Hurrah! for our borders! Hurrah! for our borders!
Southern boys to arms will stand, Southern boys to arms will stand,
And whip the dark marauders! And whip the dark marauders!

Yankee Doodles, grease your heels, Louisiana, bold and brave,

Make ready to be running, Renowned for Creole beauty,
For Dixie boys are near at hand, Your champions will bear in mind
Surpassing you in cunning. The watchword, grace and booty!

Hurrah! for our Dixie Land! Hurrah! for our Dixie Land!
Hurrah! for our borders! Hurrah! for our borders!
Southern boys to arms will stand, Southern boys to arms will stand,
And whip the dark marauders! And whip the dark marauders!

Anderson, the gallant brave, Yankee Doodle, fair thee well,

Who broke upon their slumbers, Ere long you’ll be forgotten,
E’en little girls and boys shall sing While Dixie’s notes shall gaily float
Your name in tuneful numbers. Throughout the land of cotton.

Hurrah! for our Dixie Land!

Hurrah! for our borders!
Southern boys to arms will stand,
And whip the dark marauders!
 Battle-Hymn of the Republic (1862)
by Julia Ward Howe
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming
of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the
grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fatal lightning of his
terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a
hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an altar in the
evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim
and flaring lamps.
His Day is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished
rows of steel:
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you
my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the
serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.”
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that
shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before
his judgment-seat:
Oh! be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be
jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born
across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures
you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to
make men free,
While God is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.