Battle Cry of Freedom
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The "Battle Cry of Freedom", also known as "Rally 'Round the Flag", is a song written in 1862 by American composer George Frederick Root (1820–1895) during the American Civil War. A patriotic song advocating the causes of Unionism and abolitionism, it became so popular that composer H. L. Schreiner and lyricist W. H. Barnes adapted it for the Confederacy.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
A modified Union version was used as the campaign song for the Lincoln-Johnson ticket in the 1864 presidential election, as well as in elections after the war, such as for Garfield in the 1880 U.S. presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It is estimated that over 700,000 copies of its sheet music were put in circulation. The song was so popular that the music publisher had 14 printing presses going at one time and still could not keep up with demand. Louis Moreau Gottschalk thought so highly of the song that in his diary he confided that he thought "it should be our national anthem" and used it as the basis for his 1863 concert paraphrase for solo piano "Le Cri de délivrance," opus 55, and dedicated it to Root, who was a personal friend. Charles Ives quoted the song in several compositions, including his own patriotic song, "They Are There".<ref> Template:Cite book</ref> <score> % Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21566/21566-h/images/battlecry.pdf \new Score {
\new Staff {
<<
\new Voice = "one" \relative c {
\clef treble
\key bes \major
\time 4/4
\partial 8*2 bes8 c | d8 d d8. c16 bes4 g8. a16 |
bes8 bes bes8. a16 g2 | f4 f8. ees16 d8 f bes8. c16 | d2 c4
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\new Lyrics \lyricsto "one" {
Yes we'll ral -- ly round the flag, boys, we'll ral -- ly once a -- gain,
Shout -- ing the bat -- tle -- cry of Free -- dom
}
>>
}
} </score>
History
"Battle Cry of Freedom" proved popular among Union soldiers during the American Civil War. According to Henry Stone, a Union war veteran recalling in the late 1880s, the song helped the morale of Union soldiers:
According to historian Christian L. McWhirter, the song's success and popularity among the Union was due to its even-handed references to both abolitionism and unionism. Thus, both groups of Unionists, those opposed to slavery and secession, could utilize the song without reservation:
Lyrics (Union version)
Extended lyrics (Union version)
As published in Hoge, The Boys in Blue (1867) pp. 477–479.<ref name=Hoge9>Hoge, The Boys in Blue, p. 477–479</ref> Template:Poemquote
Lyrics (Confederate version)
Chorus (1864 election campaign)
In popular culture
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See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Collins, Ace. Songs Sung, Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved Patriotic Songs. HarperResource, 2003. Template:ISBN
- Irwin Silber, Songs of the Civil War Template:Webarchive, Dover, 1995.
- Template:Cite book
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External links
- Battle Cry of FreedomTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore at Allmusic
- Battle Cry of Freedom at Civil War Songs
- Sheet music for "Battle Cry of Freedom", from Project Gutenberg
- Sheet music for the Confederate version of "Battle Cry of Freedom", from the Library of Congress
- MIDI for "Battle Cry of Freedom", from Project Gutenberg
- "Battle Cry of Freedom" (Union version), Walter Van Brunt (Edison Blue Amberol 2904, 1916)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.
- "Battle Cry of Freedom" Confederate/Union (music video), Tom Roush.
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