As we all know, the King of Rock was born in Mississippi. Thus, he was greatly influenced by country music, which can be heard in all his songs. One of his most well-known songs, Love Me, Tender was actually based on a Civil War ballad written by W. W. Fosdick and George R. Poulton, called Aura Lea. The fact that this song direnctly influenced Elvis, is a great example of how prevalent the memory of the Civil War was, and still is in the South.
This post will not be about music, but a book series. The series is called the “Southern Victory Series” by Harry Turledove. The first book in the series is How Few Remain. Why is it interesting? Well, I came across it a few years ago. It is an alternate history series, which is set from September 10, 1862 to 1944. The series features many historical chacaters in very different roles than they had in our world. For example, the Battle of Little Bighorn never occurs, and an aging John Custer fights in the First World War.
The novels tell the story of a different, fictional outcome of the Civil War and the consequences that followed, presenting an alternate version of our world’s history. The divergence in history is that Robert E. Lee’s Special Order 191 is not lost before the Battle of Antietam. In our world, this movement order was captured by the Union forces, which contained all the movements of the Confederate Army, thereby helping the Union to gain victory. With the order not lost, Lee wins the battle in this world and destroys the Army of Potomac. This victory prompts the United Kingdom and France to recognize the Confederacy and enter the war on their side. In the end, the CSA gains independence.
Years later, when the Confederacy purchases northern Mexican territory, and gains a Pacific seaboard, a second war occurs between the Union and the Confederacy. The CSA humiliates the USA, and similarly to what happened in France after the Franco-Prussian war, revanchism arises. With the CSA, France and Great Britain being allies, the Union joins the Central Powers on the eve of the First World War. When the war starts, thrench warfare erupts not just in Europe, but in the East Coast and the Canadian Border, while war in the West is more similar to the Eastern Front in Europe. With some minor divergences, Italy does not join the war against the Central Powers in this world. Russia is engulfed in a bloody civil war, and without American supplies, Germany eventually overpowers France and Great Britain, while the Union also manages to gain the upper hand, as Marxist black rebellions threaten the South.
The North’s demands are humiliating, and the South is in total disarray after the war. In Russia, the whites eventually win the civil war, and the Tzar stays in power, although the Russian economy is failing. As the Great Depression occurs when Russia in not able to pay her loans to Austria-Hungary, a new party comes to power in the South, called the Freedom Party. Led by a charismatic man named Jake Featherston, they blame the blacks for all the problems of the country, and start heavy militarization, quite similar to what happened in Nazi Germany. All the while, socialists come to power in the North, and the Second World War is about to begin.
World War Two starts with a French and Russian attack on the Central Powers and a CSA bombing raid on Washington D.C. (the Union capitol in this world is Philadelphia). The Entente seem to be gaining the upper hand, while a Holocaust is started against the blacks in the CSA. Eventually however, after a disastrous battle of Pittsburg, the CS Army is defeated (this world’s Stalingrad), and the Confederate forces are driven back. Germany also mounts an offensive, and develops an atomic bomb. Eventually, the Entente are defeated and the South and Canada are occupied similar to the Eastern Block in our world. The series ends with a developing Cold War between Germany and the USA.
The books in the series are as follows:
– How Few Remain
Great War Trilogy:
– American Front
– Walk In Hell
– Breakthroughs
American Empire Trilogy:
– Blood and Iron
– The Center Cannot Hold
– Victorious Opposition
Settling Accounts Tetralogy:
– Return Engagement
– Drive to the East
– The Grapple
– In At The Death
I know it is not about music, so let’s listen to some great Southern metal:
The Rebel Yell is a name given to the Confederate battlecry in the Civil War. How the Yell actually sounded like is unknown, but it is speculated that it was inspired by Native American battlecries. According to Battle Cry of Freedom, the Yell was first heard in the First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas, when Stonewall Jackson ordered a bayonet charge on Henry House Hill. The charge eventually routed the Federal forces, and the Yell became legendary amongst Northern soldiers, instilling fear, while boosting the morale of the Confederates. There is a rare recording of a Confederate veteran performing the Yell in 1935 here. Although not music, I believe the cultural significance of the Yell is very much worth mentioning. But since there should be some music, listen to Billy Idol’s song (which is totally unrelated to the original Yell).
p.s.: you can also buy a brand of whisky named Rebel Yell in Bárka here in Debrecen, but you really don’t want to try it. Very cheap stuff.
Only somewhat related to the Civil War, the military song “Over there” was written in 1917 for World War 1.
The lyrics:
Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.
Take it on the run, on the run, on the run.
Hear them calling you and me,
Every Son of Liberty.
Hurry right away, no delay, go today.
Make your Daddy glad to have had such a lad.
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy’s in line.
Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun,
Johnny, show the “Hun” you’re a son-of-a-gun.
Hoist the flag and let her fly.
Yankee Doodle do or die.
Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit.
Yankee to the ranks from the towns and the tanks.
Make your Mother proud of you
And the old red-white-and-blue
Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming
The drums rum-tumming everywhere.
So prepare, say a prayer,
Send the word, send the word to beware –
We’ll be over, we’re coming over,
And we won’t come back till it’s over, over there.
How is this related to the Civil War? Well, the line “Johnny get your gun” was a famous rallying cry in the 19th century, and a slogan encouraging enlistment in the army. The song itself could also be heard in the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” (at the end of S01E03), by the way. Now, to make it a bit more related to present day popular culture, the song was also covered by the rock band Ladyjack. Definitely worth a listen:
In the last post, we have seen how the Union and Confederacy liked to convert each others’ songs to their own needs. However, they did not only use songs from the enemy.
“The Wearing of the Green” is an Irish ballad dating back to 1798, written during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The title refers to the shamrocks that the revolutionaries put on their hats. The song has many different versions of lyrics, this is the Dion Boucicault version:
1. Oh! Paddy, dear, and did you hear
The news that’s going round,
The shamrock is forbid by law
To grow on Irish ground.
Saint Patrick’s Day no more we’ll keep
His color can’t be seen
For there’s a bloody law agin’
The wearing of the green.
I met with Napper Tandy
And he took me by the hand
And he said “How’s poor old Ireland?
And how does she stand?”
She’s the most distressful country
That ever you have seen,
They’re hanging men and women there
For wearing of the green.
2. Then since the color we must wear
Is England’s cruel red
Sure Ireland’s sons will n’er forget
The blood that they have shed.
You may take the shamrock from your hat
And cast it on the sod,
But ’twill take root and flourish still
Tho’ underfoot ’tis trod.
When the law can stop the blades of grass
From growing as they grow,
And when the leaves in summer time
Their verdure dare not show,
Then I will change the color
I wear in my caubeen,
But till that day I’ll stick for aye
To wearing of the green.
3. But if at last our color should
Be torn from Ireland’s heart,
Her sons with shame and sorrow
From the dear old sod will part.
I’ve heard a whisper of a country
That lies beyond the sea,
Where rich and poor stand equal
In the light of freedom’s day.
Oh, Erin! Must we leave you,
Driven by the tyrant’s hand?
Must we ask a mother’s welcome
From a strange but happy land?
Where the cruel cross of England’s thralldom
Never shall be seen
And where in peace we’ll live and die
A-wearing of the green.
The Confederates wrote their own version of the song, called the “Wearing of the Grey” (referring to their grey uniforms). The lyrics mourn the fallen of the South, and as such, the song is much more depressive in tone.
The fearful struggle's ended now and peace smiles on our land, And though we've yielded we have proved ourselves a faithful band. We fought them long, we fought them well, we fought them night and day, And bravely struggled for our rights while wearing of the gray. And now that we have ceased to fight and pledged our sacred word, That we against the Union's might no more will draw the sword, We feel despite the sneers of those who never smelt the fray, That we've a manly, honest right to wearing of the gray. Our cause is lost the more we fight 'gainst o'erwhelming power, All wearied are our limbs and drenched with many a battle shower. We feign we rest for want of strength in yielding up the day, And lower the flag so proudly born while wearing of the gray. Defeat is not dishonor, our honor not bereft, We thank God that in our hearts this priceless boon was left. And though we weep just for those braves who stood in proud array, Beneath our flag and nobly died while wearing of the gray. When in the ranks of war we stood and faced the deadly hail, Our simple suits of gray composed our only coats of mail. And on the awful hours that marked the bloody battle day, In memories we'll still be seen wearing of the gray. Oh! should we reach that glorious place where waits a sparklin' crown, For everyone who for the right his soldier life lay down. God grant to us the privilege upon that happy day, Of claspin' hands with those who fell while wearing of the gray. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XVsEVW4x_Q
Since my essay will also be about music, I decided trhat my first blog post will also be about music related to the Civil War. More precisely, two songs, The Battle Cry of Freedom, and Dixie. Both are very interesting, as they are both patriotic songs, and both have a Confederate and a Unionist version.
The Battle Cry of Freedom was written by George F. Root in 1862 as a patriotic song to promote the Union cause. It became immensely popular, and was even used by Lincoln in the 1864 election campaign. The song’s success propted H. L. Schreiner and W. H. Barnes to write a Confederate version of the song.
The Union version goes as follows:
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!
We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we’ll fill our vacant ranks with a million freemen more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
We will Beat up our numbers the loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And although they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
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!
The Confederate version is, as can be expected is much different. Not only is it different in lyrics, but the song’s tone is less jolly. The lyrics go as this:
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!
Our 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!–
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!–
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!–
Dixie is a bit more complicated story. First of all, it was originally a Confederate song which was given a Union counterpart. Though it may today seem as a folk song, it was in fact part of a minstrel show. Dixie became so popular, that it is this song that gave the name “Dixie” to the Southern United States. The original minstrel song has many versions of lyrics, but for us the most important is the war song, converted for both Confederate and Union sides. Although the CSA did not have an official national anthem, Dixie is widely regarded as the national anthem of the Confederacy (along with two other songs, “God Save the South” and “The Bonnie Blue Flag”). The CSA version goes like this:
Southern men the thunders mutter!
Northern flags in South winds flutter!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Send them back your fierce defiance!
Stamp upon the cursed alliance!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! Hurrah!
In Dixie’s land we take our stand, and live or die for Dixie!
To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie!
To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie
Fear no danger! Shun no labor!
Lift up rifle, pike, and saber!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Shoulder pressing close to shoulder,
Let the odds make each heart bolder!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! Hurrah!
In Dixie’s land we take our stand, and live or die for Dixie!
To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie!
To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie!
Swear upon your country’s altar
Never to submit or falter–
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Till the spoilers are defeated,
Till the Lord’s work is completed!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
The Union version is sort of a mockery of the Confederate version:
Away down South in the land of traitors,
Rattlesnakes and alligators,
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
Where cotton’s king and men are chattels,
Union boys will win the battles,
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
(Chorus)
Then we’ll all go down to Dixie,
Away, away,
Each Dixie boy must understand
That he must mind his Uncle Sam,
Away, away,
And we’ll all go down to Dixie.
Away, away,
And we’ll all go down to Dixie.
I wish I was in Baltimore,
I’d make Secession traitors roar,
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
We’ll put the traitors all to rout.
I’ll bet my boots we’ll whip them out,
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
(Chorus)
Oh, may our Stars and Stripes still wave
Forever o’er the free and brave,
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
And let our motto ever be —
For Union and for Liberty!”
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
(Chorus)
Songs of Rebellion 