Moving War Songs

[Bloomfield]

Ya know Bloomfield,
that's gonna be one hard a hard act to follow.

Nicely put together.

Denny

sad songs - nice thread.

[daveboling]

All of this is getting a bit depressing. For a bit of patriotism try this:
Follow Me up to Carlow (tells the story of the Battle of Glenmalure, one of the victories of the Irish over the English at the end of the sixteenth century in the Desmond Rebellions):

Lift MacCahir Og your face,
Brooding o’er the old disgrace,
That black Fitzwilliam stormed your place
And drove you to the Fern.
Grey said victory was sure,
Soon the firebrand he’d secure.
Until he met at Glanmalure
Feach Mac Hugh O’Byrne

Chorus:
Curse and swear Lord Kildare
Feach will do what Feach will dare
Now Fitzwilliam have a care
Fallen is your star low.
Up with halberd, out with sword
On we go for by the Lord
Feach Mac Hugh has given the word:
Follow me up to Carlow.

See the swords of Glen Imayle,
Flashing o’er the English Pale
See all the children of the Gael,
Beneath O’Byrne’s Banners
Rooster of the fighting stock
Would you let a Saxon cock
Crow out upon an Irish rock?
Fly up and teach him manners.

(Chorus repeats)

From Tassagart to Clonmore,
There flows a stream of Saxon gore
Och, great is Rory Og O’More,
At sending loons to Hades.
White is sick and Grey is fled,
Now for black Fitzwilliam’s head
We’ll send it over, dripping red,
To Queen Liza and her ladies

(Chorus repeats)

If you want depressing songs, try "Patrick Sheehan" (no relation to Cindy ) .

dave boling

[Darwin]

All of this is getting a bit depressing. For a bit of patriotism try this:

There's "moving" and then there's "moving". Here's one that moved different folks in different ways:

Marching Through Georgia

Bring the good old bugle, boys,
We'll sing another song,
Sing it with a spirit that will
Start the world along;
Sing it as we used to sing it
Fifty thousand strong,
While we were marching thro' Georgia.

Hurrah! Hurrah!
We bring the Jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus
From Atlanta to the sea,
While we were marching thro' Georgia.

How the people shouted
When they heard the joyful sound,
How the turkeys gobbled
Which our commisary found!
How the sweet potatoes
Even started from the ground,
While we were marching thro' Georgia.

Hurrah! Hurrah!
We bring the Jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus
From Atlanta to the sea,
While we were marching thro' Georgia.

[I.D.10-t]

One thing I do wonder about is what happened to the “rejoicing(?)” war songs. Like the “British grenadiers”, “praise the lord and pass the ammunition” ,and even the weird “fiddlers’ green” rejoicing that Cavalry can never get to hell.

I also wonder how “Waltzing Matilda” became a WWII favorite (I’M looking at you Wambat) when it has nothing to do with war.

[Wombat]

One thing I do wonder about is what happened to the “rejoicing(?)” war songs. Like the “British grenadiers”, “praise the lord and pass the ammunition” ,and even the weird “fiddlers’ green” rejoicing that Cavalry can never get to hell.

I suppose people don't find them moving.

I also wonder how “Waltzing Matilda” became a WWII favorite (I’M looking at you Wambat) when it has nothing to do with war.

It didn't. The war song, World War I at that, was written by Eric Bogle, a Scot who lives in Australia, and it alludes to 'Waltzing Matilda' which is a different song but one that might have been played on patriotic occasions. Bogle plays up the ironies of contemplating the carefree life of a swagman (which Bogle's character was before enlisting) and the life of desparation of the incapacitated and very unglamorous vet he'd become.

[chas]

Follow Me up to Carlow

Rooster of the fighting stock
Would you let a Saxon cock
Crow out upon an Irish rock?
Fly up and teach him manners.

That's one of my favorite turns of phrase in all music. There's another one in Harvest of Culloden:

'Twas musket and cannon
'Gainst honor and courage

Those few words with that tune sum up so much emotion it's amazing.

[Blackbeer]

Well Bloom I used to sing that song in my gigs back in the old day, thanks for the reminder. I haven`t heard anyone mention "Masters of War" by Dylan which is about as powerfull a tune as one can find. And still very relavent.
My dad always made me sing "Two Young Brothers" way back when and I always had a hard time getting through it. In fact many of these tunes bring back membories for this twisted old vet. Its why I love this forum I guess.

Take care

Tom

[dubhlinn]

One thing I do wonder about is what happened to the “rejoicing(?)” war songs. Like the “British grenadiers”, “praise the lord and pass the ammunition” ,and even the weird “fiddlers’ green” rejoicing that Cavalry can never get to hell.

I suppose people don't find them moving.

I also wonder how “Waltzing Matilda” became a WWII favorite (I’M looking at you Wambat) when it has nothing to do with war.

It didn't. The war song, World War I at that, was written by Eric Bogle, a Scot who lives in Australia, and it alludes to 'Waltzing Matilda' which is a different song but one that might have been played on patriotic occasions. Bogle plays up the ironies of contemplating the carefree life of a swagman (which Bogle's character was before enlisting) and the life of desparation of the incapacitated and very unglamorous vet he'd become.

Indeed,
Tom Waits song.."Tom Trauberts Blues" hits these issues, in a Tom Waits way..a wonderful song..regardless.

Bogles place in history is assured among the great unwashed..Toms is still to be deceided..War is hell.

Shlan..hic..love..
D.

[Charlene]

The Battle Cry of Freedom:

Battle cry of freedom
Words and music: George F. Root

1.
Yes we'll rally round the flag, boys,
we'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom,
And we bear the glorious stars for the
Union and the right,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.

2.
We will meet the rebel host, boys,
with fearless heart and true,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom,
And we'll show what Uncle Sam has for
loyal men to do,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.

3.
If we fall amid the fray, boys,
we'll face them to the last,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom,
And our comrades brave shall hear us,
as they go rushing past,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.

4.
Yes, for Liberty and Union we're springing
to the fight,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom,
And the vict'ry shall be ours, for we're
rising in our might,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom

Refrain:
The Union forever, Hurrah! boys, Hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
For we're marching to the field boys,
going to the fight,
Shouting the battle-cry of freedom!

[rebl_rn]

One thing I do wonder about is what happened to the “rejoicing(?)” war songs. Like the “British grenadiers”, “praise the lord and pass the ammunition” ,and even the weird “fiddlers’ green” rejoicing that Cavalry can never get to hell.

I don't think it's technically a "war song", but there is a type of rejoicing song that was a big hit recently in country music - Toby Keith's "American Soldier".

I'm just trying to be a father, raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother, everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early, I'm all business in my suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed for success from my head down to my boots.

I don't do it for money, there's bills that I can't pay,
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be.

And I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekends been to strong,
I just work straight through the holidays, and sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American soldier, an American,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American,
An American,
An American Soldier

[Cynth]

I think "Tenting Tonight" from the US Civil War is very moving, on the depressing side I guess. I know some might think it is sappy, but it can be sung so that it isn't.

[rebl_rn]

And if you really want a 'rejoicing' war type song, the most recent I can think of is another Toby Keith wrote right after 9/11 - "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)".

American girls and American guys
We’ll always stand up and salute, we’ll always recognize
When we see Old Glory flying there’s a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head

My daddy served in the army where he lost his right eye
But he flew a flag out in our yard until the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy in the land of the free.

Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin’ in from somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world like the 4th of July

Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringin’ her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
All brought to you courtesy of the Red White and Blue

Justice will be served and the battle will rage
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
And you’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A.

`Cause we`ll put a boot in your ass
It`s the American way

Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringin’ her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
All brought to you courtesy of the Red White and Blue

[Bloomfield]

And if you really want a 'rejoicing' war type song, the most recent I can think of is another Toby Keith wrote right after 9/11 - "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)".

American girls and American guys
We’ll always stand up and salute, we’ll always recognize
When we see Old Glory flying there’s a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head

...

A modern masterpiece and an instant classic, I am sure.

`Cause we`ll put a boot in your ass
It`s the American way

A deeply moving sentiment, hehehe.

[cowtime]

Hey now ifn' wer goin' ta be postin' this "Battle Cry of Freedom" stuff then
I'm gonna have ta post this one-

Unreconstructed Rebel



Information Lyrics
Unreconstructed Rebel is also known as I'm a Good Old Rebel It was originally printed in 1914 in Collier's Weekly. The words are by Major Innes Randolph, a member of J.E.B. Stuart's staff.
The tune is the same as Lily of the West and Lakes of Ponchartrain.

Oh, I'm a good old Rebel,
Now that's just what I am;
For this "fair land of Freedom"
I do not care a damn.
I'm glad I fit against it-
I only wish we'd won.
And I don't want no pardon
For anything I've done.

I hates the Constitution,
This great Republic too;
I hates the Freedmen's Buro,
In uniforms of blue.
I hates the nasty eagle,
With all his brag and fuss;
But the lyin', thievin' Yankees
I hates' em wuss and wuss.

We got three hundred thousand
Befo' they conquered us.
They died of Southern fever
And Southern steel and shot;
And I wish it was three million
Instead of what we got.

I can't take up my musket
And fight' em now no mo',
But I ain't a-goin'to love' em,
Now that is sartin sho';
And I don't want no pardon
For what I was and am;
And I won't be reconstructed,
And I do not give a damn.

[Charlene]

I was also going to list Dixie.