A SONG FOR THIS WEEKEND - AND THE REST OF THE CAMPAIGN

If you ask most people what was the Union’s song during the Civil War, the chances are pretty good that they will name “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

While it’s a helluva song, that answer would be wrong.

"The Battle Cry of Freedom" was written by George F. Root and became the most popular song during the Civil War , (so popular the South tried to hijack it with different lyrics) and was what was called through the war “the Peoples’ song.”

Composed in haste in a single day in response to President Abraham Lincoln's July 1862 call for 300,000 volunteers to fill the shrinking ranks of the Union Army, the song was first performed on July 24 and again on July 26 at a massive war rally. Composer-lyricist George F. Root recalled years later:

“From there the song went into the army, and the testimony in regard to its use in the camp and on the march, and even on the field of battle, from soldiers and officers, up to the good President himself, made me thankful that if I could not shoulder a musket in defense of my country I could serve her in this way.”

A Massachusetts native, Root had shown remarkable musical abilities from an early age, mastering no fewer than thirteen instruments by the age of 12. Primarily a vocal instructor, Root eventually began composing, writing in the classical genre. He was a founding partner in the Chicago-based music publishing firm of Root and Cady.

When the War Between the States broke out, Root began to write inspirational songs for the Union war effort. Although his earlier attempts at popular pieces had so embarrassed him that he signed them with the name "Wurzel" (German for "root") so as not to compromise his reputation as a serious composer, he now showed no hesitation in turning out song after song. Other works such as "Just Before the Battle, Mother" and "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" quickly established him as perhaps the most popular and certainly the most prolific of wartime composer/songwriters.

Public response to "The Battle Cry of Freedom" was overwhelming. When the sheet music was published that fall, fourteen printing presses working round the clock were unable to keep up with the demand for copies. Between 500,000 and 700,000 copies were produced.

In the years after the war, while the great “national reconciliation” was pushed and the great lie that the war had nothing to do with Slavery became the mythological truth, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” did finally become Number One.

That’s because a song with this for the chorus had become “politically inexpedient.”

“The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!/Down with the traitors! Up with the star!/While we rally ‘round the flag, boys/We rally ‘round the flag/Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!”

Not too conciliatory, eh?

The song was easy to add verses to, and over a hundred different verses have been credited to it over the years of the war. It’s an easy song to remember, the kind that can turn into an “ear worm.”

The Battle Cry of Freedom (Union version)
by George F. Root

Yes we’ll rally round the flag, boys, we’ll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
We will 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 traitor! up with the star!
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

We are springing to the call with a million freemen more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we’ll fill our vacant ranks of our brothers gone before,
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, not a man shall 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 best,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

Chorus

Here’s a version sung by the Weavers:

The Battle Cry of Freedom - The Weavers

I think the song has strong relevance today. We should sing it from now to November at work meetings and rallies.

Pauid subscribers keep That’s Another Fine Mess going. It’s only $7/month or $70/year.

Comments are for paid subscribers.