Music of the Civil War
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Through the years music has served us well as to keep our faith, to remind us of happier times, to give us hope. For many, music has been thought to belong to the wealthy, during the 1860s. But, wasnt always reformed and only for the educated. Many soldiers would sing songs are fictitious woman back home to give them hope. Basic battaglias lead soldiers out to almost certain death. But, like many thing, music evolves. The style, the vocabulary. In theses following pages and text, I hope to enlighten you on the music of the civil war.
Many songs from the civil war are still sung today. For example, When Johnny comes marching home*. This song was sung by both sides. It doesnt sound complicated, it sounds like a march composed today.
The song O, Im a Good old rebel is a perfect example of how the south felt about the north. Here is an excerpt to show you:
I hates the nasty eagle,
With all his brags and fuss,
The lyin, thievin Yankees,
I hates em wuss and wuss*
As you can tell from this song, the south wasnt exactly fond of the north. But, it realty does express the feeling of the south towards the north.
The song “the battle hymn of the republic” is a song strongly connected with the union during the civil war. An excerpt:
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.*
This march would be sung to raise the spirits of solders. This version was the version that the union troops would sing. In many cases you will find two versions of a song that was composed during the civil war. The reason behind this would be, when ever a soldier heard an opposing army play a tune that he liked, he would steal the tune and write his own words to it.
Our music today is filled with slang along with proper grammar. Just like during the time of the American Civil War. But, to you and me it is a little strange. Many words that we dont use today were used in this time period.
Songs represent the language of he times, relatively. The songs at this time, the vocabulary sounded very similar to todays vocabulary. But, if you listen to speeches made at this time (i.e. Gettysburg address*) they sounded very different.
How is it we always know if a song is composed at a certain era? The way they sing, the music put with them, they all reflect the sound of there era. Lets again look at “O, I am a Good