During the Civil War singing was one of the soldiers' favorite ways to pass time. Scores of songs were composed during the war and sung throughout the armies and at home.
Many were inspirational marching tunes meant to keep soldiers' morale high, while others were sad sentimental songs that were sung when thinking of home or loved ones.
Sometimes, if soldiers liked a tune they heard the enemy singing, they would write their own lyrics to the song and sing it themselves. For this reason, many Civil War songs have at least two versions.
For the Dear Old Flag I Die by George Cooper (Union)
"For the dear old Flag I die," Said the wounded drummer boy;"Mother, press your lips to mine;O, they bring me peace and joy!'Tis the last time on the earth I shall ever see your face,Mother take me to your heart,Let me die in your embrace.(Chorus)For the dear old Flag I die,Mother, dry your weeping eye;For the honor of our landAnd the dear old Flag I die.""Do not mourn, my mother dear,Every pang will soon be o'er;For I hear the angel bandCalling from their starry shore;Now I see their banners waveIn the light of perfect day,Though 'tis hard to part with you,Yet I would not wish to stay."(Chorus)Farewell mother, Death's cold handWeighs upon my spirit breathFan my pallid cheek and brow.Closer! closer! to your heart,Let me feel that you are by,While my sight is growing dim,For the dear old Flag I die.(Chorus)
Goober Peasby A. Pindar (Confederacy)
Sittin' by the roadside on a summer's day,Chattin' with my messmates, passing time away,Lying in the shadow, underneath the trees,Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas!(Chorus)Peas! Peas! Peas! Peas! Eating goober peas!Goodness, how delicious, Eating goober peas!When a horseman passes, the soldiers have a ruleTo cry out at their loudest "Mister, here's your mule!"But still another pleasure enchantinger than theseIs wearing out your grinders, eating goober peas!(Chorus)Just before the battle, the Gen'ral hears a row,He says "The Yanks are coming, I hear their rifles now"!He turns around in wonder, and what do you think he sees?The Georgia Militia -- eating goober peas!(Chorus)I think my song had lasted almost long enough,The subject's interesting, but rhymes are mighty rough!I wish this war was over, when free from rags and fleas,We'd kiss our wives and sweethearts and gobble goober peas!(Chorus)
Marching Alongby William B. Bradbury (Union)
The army is gath'ring from near and from far;The trumpet is sounding the call for the war;McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong;We'll gird on our armor and be marching along.(Chorus)Marching along, we are marching along,Gird on the armor and be marching along;McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong; For God and for country we are marching along.The foe is before us in battle array,But let us not waver or turn from the way;The Lord is our strength and the Union's our song;With courage and faith we are marching along.(Chorus)Our wives and our children we leave in your care,We feel you will help them with sorrow to bear;'Tis hard thus to part, but we hope 'twon't be long,We'll keep up our heart as we're marching along.(Chorus)We sigh for our country, we mourn for our dead,For them now our last drop of blood we will shed;Our cause is the right one-our foe's in the wrong;Then gladly we'll sing as we're marching along.(Chorus)The flag of our country is floating on high, We'll stand by that flag till we conquer or die;McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong,We'll gird our armor and be marching along.(Chorus)
My Maryland (Union Version)by Anonymous
The Rebel feet are on our shore,    Maryland, my Maryland!I smell 'em half a mile or more,    Maryland, my Maryland!Their shockless hordes are at my door,Their drunken generals on my floor,What now can sweeten Baltimore?    Maryland, my Maryland!Hark to our noses' dire appeal,    Maryland, my Maryland!Oh unwashed Rebs to you we kneel!    Maryland, my Maryland!If you can't purchase soap, oh stealThat precious article-I feelLike scratching from the head to heel    Maryland, my Maryland!You're covered thick with mud and dust,        Maryland, my Maryland!As though you'd been upon a bust,    Maryland, my Maryland!Remember, it is scarcely just,To have a filthy fellow thrustBefore us, till he's been scrubbed fust,    Maryland, my Maryland!I see no blush upon thy cheek,    Maryland, my Maryland!It's not been washed for many a week,    Maryland, my Maryland!To get thee clean-'tis truth I speak-Would dirty every stream and creek,From Potomac to Chesapeake,    Maryland, my Maryland!
Riding a Raid by Anonymous (Confederacy)
'Tis old Stonewall, the Rebel, that leans on his sword,And while we are mounting, prays low to the Lord: "Now each cavalier that loves Honor and Right, Let him follow the feather of Stuart tonight."(Chorus)Come tighten your girth and slacken your rein;Come buckle your blanket and holster again;Try the click of your trigger and balance your blade,For he must ride sure that goes Riding a Raid! Now gallop, now gallop, to swim or to ford!Old Stonewall, still watching, prays low to the Lord:"Good-bye dear old Rebel! The river's not wide,And Maryland's lights in her window to guide."(Chorus)There's a man in a white house with blood on his mouth!If there's Knaves in the North, there are braves in the South.We are three thousand horses, and not one afraid;We are three thousand sabres and not a dull blade.(Chorus)Then gallop, then gallop, by ravines and rocks!Who would bar us the way take his toll in hard knocks;For with these points of steel, on the line of Penn,We have made some fine strokes-and we'll make 'em again.
The Rebel Soldier (Southern Appalachian folk song) by Anonymous (Confederacy)
O Polly, O Polly, It's for your sake alone,I've left my old father,My country and my home.I've left my old mother To weep and to mourn,I am a Rebel soldierAnd far from my home.It's grape shot and musket,And the cannons lumber loud,There's many a mangled body,The blanket for their shroud;There's many a mangled bodyLeft on the fields alone,I am a Rebel soldier And far from my home.I'll eat when I'm hungry,I'll drink when I am dry,If the Yankees don't kill me,I'll live until I die;If the Yankees don't kill meAnd cause me to mourn,I am a Rebel soldierAnd far from my home.Here's a good old cup of brandyAnd a glass of nice wine,You can drink to your true love,And I will drink to mine;And you can drink to your true love,And I'll lament and mourn,I am a Rebel soldierAnd far from my home.I'll build me a castle on the mountain,On some green mountain high,Where I can see PollyAs she is passing by;Where I can see Polly And help her to mournI am a Rebel soldierAnd far from my home.