And when we were reenacting as a family when my son was younger (when we lived in Las Vegas, NV) it was the music of the Civil War that really drew my attention.
One song in particular - The Battle Cry of Freedom
and the reason being is that there are two completely different versions of it.
The song was written in 1862 by American Composer George Frederick Root during the Civil War for the Union, and then the lyrics were rewritten by HL Schreiner and WH Barnes for the Confederacy
1862 - Battle Cry of Freedom
Oh we'll rally round the
flag, boys, we'll rally once again,
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, and up with the stars,
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, and 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 of our brothers gone before,[b]
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 rebel crew from the land we love the best,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.
(Chorus)
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 of our brothers gone before,[b]
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 rebel crew from the land we love the best,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.
(Chorus)
###
Confederate Version
Our flag is proudly floating on the land and on the main,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Beneath it oft we've conquered, and we'll conquer oft again!
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
Our Dixie forever! She's never at a loss!
Down with the eagle and up with the cross
We'll rally 'round the bonny flag, we'll rally once again.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Out gallant boys have marched to the rolling of the drums.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
And the leaders in charge cry out, "Come, boys, come!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
They have laid down their lives on the bloody battle field.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Their motto is resistance - "To the tyrants never yield!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
While our boys have responded and to the fields have gone.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Our noble women also have aided them at home.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
****
What is it that is so stirring?
A song... and anthem to rouse the national fervor in the people of a nation?
Where does this patriotism come from?
Where does this patriotism come from?
What songs stir you to create? To demand? To love? To dream?
What songs help to create a need within your soul?
What songs help to create a need within your soul?
I love music too! I enjoy hearing songs from the Civil War Er, and I listen to current songs and even any past songs where the music and words make me think of my story arcs in my scripts and actually have written a a couple of songs into my scripts as well.
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