Song from the
American Civil War, written specifically for the
Union Army. It was an original, composed by by
George F. Root in
1862 (many
army songs of the time were
popular songs of the day with the words changed). The song became quite popular among
soldiers as well as the
public. It quickly became a
staple of the
Hutchinson Family Singers repertoire.
Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom
We will rally from the hillside
We'll gather from the plains,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
Chorus:
The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
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 the vacant ranks
With a million freemen more,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom
And altho' they may be poor
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
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 the best,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
The song was so good that it was
rumored to have actually been used as a
battle cry,
inspiring acts of foolhardy
courage on the
battlefield. The
battle version had its own
lyrics:
We are marching to the field, boys,
We're going to the fight,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom,
And we bear the glorious stars
For the Union and the right,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.
Battle chorus:
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!
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.
(Chorus)
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.
(Chorus)
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.
(Chorus)
As was typical, the
Confederacy quickly adopted the
tune for themselves, changing the words to support their cause:
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!
Chorus:
Our Dixie forever!
She's never at a loss!
Down with the eagle
And up with the cross!
We'll rally 'round the bonny flag,
We'll rally once 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!
(Chorus)
They have laid down their lives
On the bloody battle field,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Their motto is resistance --
"To tyrants we'll not yield!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
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!
(Chorus)
You can hear the song on almost any collection of
Civil War songs, and it's been recorded by everyone from
Tom Varner to the
Robert Shaw Chorale. An
instrumental version by
pianist Jacqueline Schwab is on the
soundtrack to
Ken Burns' The Civil War. And you can hear the tune with
completely different words on
Billy Bragg's
Talking With The Taxman About Poetry.