SONGS AND STORIES OF A CIVIL WAR HOSPITAL -CANDLELIGHT AT CHRIST
CHURCH
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Prelude Music
Welcome
Reading: Christ Church History and Young Citizen’s Account
Songs of the South and North: TBA
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Complete lyrics to the Songs of a Civil War Hospital are available on CandlelightatChrist.org
A professionally produced recording of Songs and Stories of a
Civil War Hospital is available for purchase. This CD contains
musical pieces not included in all live performances.
Reading: A Wounded Soldier’s Account
Song: TBA
Reading: Journal of a Citizen-Nurse, Part I
Song: TBA
Poetry: Walt Whitman’s “The Wound Dresser” or “A March in the
Ranks Hard-Prest”
Reading: Journal of a Citizen-Nurse, Part II
Song: “There is a Land of Pure Delight,” All (page 9)
Poetry: Walt Whitman’s “Come Up From The Fields, Father”
Song: TBA
Closing: Passages from President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
Song: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” All (page 2)
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Note: The songs are listed in alphabetical order to ease your locating them for singing along on the bold text.
Donations are gratefully accepted and will be used exclusively to
sustain Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital into the future. Boxes for free-will donations are located near the entrance/exit.
To make a donation electronically, simply scan the QR on the
back of this booklet with your cell phone.
THE BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM, George F. Root
WEEPING, SAD AND LONELY (cont’d)
1. 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.
Refrain:
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.
When the summer breeze is sighing, mournfully, along! Or when
autumn leaves are falling. Sadly breathes the song.
Oft in dreams I see thee lying on the battle plain, lonely,
wounded, even dying; calling, but in vain. Refrain
2. 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. Refrain
If amid the din of battle, nobly you should fall, far away from those
who love you, none to hear your call. Who would whisper words
of comfort, who would soothe your pain? Ah! the many cruel
fancies ever in my brain.
Refrain
3. 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. Refrain
WHEN JOHHNY COMES MARCHING HOME
Patrick S. Gilmore / Traditional Irish (adapted)
When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah! Hurrah!
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout, the ladies they will all
turn out,
And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.
4. [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. Refrain]
The old church bell will peal with joy, Hurrah…To welcome
home our darling boy, Hurrah…
The village lads and lasses say, with roses they will strew the
way, And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.
BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, Julia Ward Howe
1. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are
stored; He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift
sword, His truth is marching on.
Refrain: Glory, glory! Hallelujah! (3 times) His truth is
marching on.
2. I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling
camps; They have builded Him an altar in the ev’ning dews and
damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring
lamps, His day is marching on. Refrain
3. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea;
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me.
As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,
While God is marching on. Refrain
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3, Get ready for the jubilee, Hurrah…We’ll give the hero three
times three, Hurrah…
The laurel wreath is ready now, to place upon his loyal brow,
And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.
WILLIE HAS GONE TO THE WAR,
George Cooper / Stephen C. Foster
The blue bird is singing his lay, to all the sweet flow’rs of the dale,
The wild bee is roaming at play, and soft is the sigh of the gale;
I stray by the brook-side alone, where oft we have wander’d before,
And weep for my lov’d one, my own, my Willie has gone to the war!
Refrain:
Willie has gone to the war, Willie, Willie my
lov’d one my own; Willie has gone to the war, Willie, Willie my
lov’d one is gone!
‘Twas here, where the lily bells grow, I last saw his noble young face,
And now while he’s gone to the foe, Oh! dearly I love the old place;
The whispering waters repeat the name that I love o’er and o’er,
And daisies that nod at my feet, say Willie has gone to the war!
Refrain:
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THE VACANT CHAIR, Henry S. Washburn / George F. Root
We shall meet, but we shall miss him, there will be one vacant chair;
We shall linger to caress him while we breathe our evening prayer.
When a year ago we gathered, joy was in his mild blue eye, But a
golden cord is severed, and our hopes in ruin lie.
Refrain:
We shall meet, but we shall miss him, there will be one
vacant chair; We shall linger to caress him when we breathe our
evening prayer.
At our fireside, sad and lonely, often will the bosom swell at remembrance of the story how our noble Willie fell; How he strove to bear
our banner thro’ the thickest of the fight, And uphold our country’s
honor, in the strength of manhood’s might. Refrain
True they tell us wreaths of glory ever more will deck his brow,
But this soothes the anguish only sweeping o’er our heart-strings
now.Sleep today, o early fallen, in thy green and narrow bed,
Dirges from the pine and cypress mingle with the tears we shed. R:
WE ARE COMING, FATHER ABRAAM, 300,000 MORE,
James Sloan Gibbons / S.C. Foster or L.O. Emerson
We are coming Father Abraam, three-hundred-thousand more,
From Mississippi’s winding stream and from New England’s shore;
We leave our plows and workshops, our wives and children dear,
With hearts too full for utterance, with but a silent tear; We dare
not look behind us but steadfastly before,
We are coming Father Abraam, three-hundred-thousand more.
Refrain:
We are coming, coming our union to restore, we
are coming Father Abraam with 300,00 more!
If you look across the hilltops that meet the northern sky.
Long moving lines of rising dust your vision may descry;
And now the wind an instant, tears the cloudy veil aside,
And floats aloft our spangled flag in glory and in pride;
And bayonets in the sunlight gleam, and bands brave music pour,
WEEPING, SAD AND LONELY (WHEN THIS CRUEL WAR IS
OVER) Charles Carroll Sawyer / Henry Tucker
Dearest love, do you remember when we last did meet, how you told
me that you loved me, kneeling at my feet? Oh! how proud you stood
before me, in your suit of blue, when you vow’d to me and country,
ever to be true. Refrain:
Weeping, sad and lonely, hopes and fears, how vain. (Yet praying) When this cruel war is over, Praying! that we meet again.
(Cont’d)
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THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG, Harry Macarthy
We are a band of brothers native to our soil, fighting for our Liberty with treasure, blood and toil.
And when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and far,
Hurrah for the bonny blue flag that bears a single star.
Refrain: Hurrah! Hurrah! For Southern rights hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!
As long as the Union was faithful to her trust, Like friends and
like brethren, kind were we and just.
But now when Northern treachery attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the bonny blue flag that bears a single star.
Refrain
Then here’s to our Confederacy, Strong we are and brave Like
patriots of old we’ll fight our heritage to save;
And rather than submit to shame to die we would prefer,
So cheer for the bonny blue flag that bears a single star.
Refrain
DE CAMPTOWN RACES, Stephen C. Foster
Refrain: (2x) Gwine to run all night, Gwine to run all day,
I’ll bet my money on the bobtail nag, somebody bet on the gray.
DIXIE’S LAND, Daniel D. Emmett
1. I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten; Look away! Look away! Look away Dixie Land. In
Dixie’s land where I was born in, early on one frosty morning,
Look away! Look away! Look away Dixie Land.
Refrain: Then I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie’s Land, I’ll take my stand, To live and die in Dixie,
Away, away, away down south in Dixie. (2x)
4. Now here’s a health to the next old Missus, and all the gals
that want to kiss us; Look away! (etc.)
But if you want to drive ‘way sorrow, come and hear this song
tomorrow, Look away! (etc.) Refrain
5. There’s buckwheat cakes and Ingen’ batter, makes you fat or
a little fatter; Look away! (etc.)
Then hoe it down and scratch your gravel, to Dixie’s land I’m
bound to travel, Look away! (etc.) Refrain
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THE FADED COAT OF BLUE
1. My brave lad sleeps in his faded coat of blue; in a lonely grave unknown lies the heart that beat so true.
He sank faint and hungry among the famish’d brave, and they laid
him sad and lonely within his nameless grave.
Refrain:
No more the bugle calls the weary one, rest, noble
spirit, in thy grave unknown!
I’ll find you, and know you, among the good and true,
When a robe of white is giv’n for the faded coat of blue.
2. He cried, “Give me water and just a little crumb, and my mother
she will bless you thro’ all the years to come;
Oh! Tell my sweet sister, so gentle, good and true, that I’ll meet
her up in Heav’n, in my faded coat of blue.” Refrain
STEAL AWAY, Traditional
Refrain: Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus! Steal away,
steal away home, I ain’t got long to stay here.
1. My Lord, he calls me, he calls me by the thunder; the trumpet
sounds within my soul; I ain’t got long to stay here. Refrain
2. Green trees are bending, poor sinners stand a trembling; the trumpet
sounds within my soul…I ain’t…. Refrain
3. My Lord, he calls me, he calls me by the lightning; the trumpet
sounds within my soul. I ain’t.… Refrain
3. He said, “My dear comrades, you cannot take me home, But you’ll
mark my grave for mother, she’ll find me if she’ll come; I fear she’ll
not know me, among the good and true, when I meet her up in heav’n in
my faded coat of blue.” Refrain
HARD TIMES, Stephen C. Foster
1. Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears, While we
all sup sorrow with the poor:
There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears; oh! Hard Times,
come again no more.
Refrain:
“Tis the song, the sigh of the weary; Hard Times,
Hard Times, come again no more:
Many days you have lingered around my cabin
door; Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.
TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP, George F. Root
3. [There’s a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away with a
worn heart whose better days are o’er.
Though her voice would be merry, ‘tis sighing all the day; oh! Hard
Times, come again no more. Refrain]
In the prison cell I sit, thinking, Mother dear, of you, And our bright
and happy home so far away; And the tears they fill my eyes spite
of all that I can do, though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.
Refrain: Tramp! tramp! tramp! the boys are marching, cheer up,
comrades, they will come, And beneath the starry flag we shall
breathe the air again of the free-land in our own beloved home.
In the battle front we stood when their fiercest charge was made, and
they swept us off a hundred men or more;
But before we reached their lines they were beaten back, dismayed, and we heard the cry of vict’ry o’er and o’er. R.
4. ‘Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave, ‘tis a wail that is
heard upon the shore,
‘Tis a dirge that is murmured, around the lowly grave, oh! Hard
Times, come again no more. Refrain
So, within the prison cell, we are waiting for the day that shall come
to open wide the iron door,
And the hollow eye grows bright, and the poor heart almost gay,
as we think of seeing home and friends once more. R.
2. While we seek mirth and beauty, and music light and gay, there are
frail forms fainting at the door:
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say, oh!
Hard Times, come again no more. Refrain
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I AM A POOR WAYFARING STRANGER, Traditional
1. I am a poor wayfaring stranger a-traveling through this world of
woe; And there’s no sickness toil or danger in that bright land to which
I go. I’m going home to see my father, I going there no more to roam,
I’m just a-going over Jordan, I’m just a-going over home.
2. I know dark clouds will gather ‘round me, I know my way is rough
and steep, But beauteous fields lie just beyond me where souls redeemed their vigils keep. I’m going there to see my mother, she said
she’d meet me when I come, I’m just a-going over Jordan….
3. I want to wear a crown of glory when I get home to that bright
land; I want to shout salvation’s story in concert with that blood-washed
band. I’m going home to see my Savior, to sing his praises forever
more, I’m just a-going over Jordan….
JOHNNY IS GONE FOR A SOLDIER
1.
I trace these gardens o'er and o'er,meditate on each sweet flow'r,
Thinking of each happy hour. Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier.
Refrain: Shoola, shoola, shoola grah,time can only heal my woe
Since the lad of my heart from me did go. Oh, Johnny is gone for a soldier.
2. Some say my love is gone to France, there his fortune to advance, and if I
find him it's but a chance. Oh… Refrain
3. I'll sell my frock, I'll sell my wheel. I'll buy my love a sword of steel.So in
battle he may reel. Oh.. Refrain
4. I wish O was on yonder hill. It's there I'd sit and cry my fill. So ev'ry tear
might turn a mill. Oh…. Refrain
5. I'll dye my dress all over red, and o'er the world I'll beg my bread,
So all my friends may think me dead. Oh…. Refrain
RIDING A RAID, Anonymous / Traditional Scottish
Refrain:
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.
SING TO ME OF HEAVEN, Mary Stanley Bunce Dana / John Massengale
1. Oh, sing to me of heav’n when I am called to die, Sing songs of
holy ecstasy to waft my soul on high.
2. When cold and sluggish drops roll off my marble brow, Burst forth
in strains of joyfulness, let heav’n begin below.
6. Then round my senseless clay assemble those I love, And sing of
heav’n, delightful heav’n, my glorious home above.
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JOHNNY IS MY DARLING, Father Reed / Traditional Scottish
Refrain: Johnny is my darling, My darling, My darling, Oh!
Johnny is my darling; The Union Volunteer.
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE, MOTHER
Refrain: Farewell Mother, you may never press me to your heart
again. But O, you’ll not forget me, Mother, if I’m number’d with
the slain.
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THE MINSTREL BOY, Thomas Moore and Traditional
1. The minstrel boy to the war is gone in the rank of death you’ll find
him, His father’s sword he hath girded on, and his wild harp slung behind him. “Land of Song!” cried the warrior bard, “Tho’ all the world
betrays thee, One sword, at least thy rights shall guard, one faithful
heart shall praise thee!
2. The Minstrel fell! But the foeman’s steel could not bring that proud
soul under; The harp he lov’d ne’er spoke again, for he tore its chords
asunder; And said, “No chains shall sully thee, thou soul of love and
brav’ry Thy songs were made for the pure and free. They shall never
sound in slav’ry! (over)
3. The minstrel boy will return we pray. When we hear the news
all will cheer it. The minstrel boy will return some day torn in body,
not in spirit.
Then may he play on his harp in peace in a world such as
heav’n had intended.
For all the bitterness of man must cease, and every battle must
be ended.
MY FATHER HOW LONG, Traditional
1. My Father, how long (3X) this poor sinner suffer here? (repeat in
harmony)
Refrain: And it won’t be long (3X) this poor sinner suffer here
2. We’ll soon be free (3X) when the Lord will call us home.
(repeat in harmony) Refrain
3. We’ll walk the miry road (3X) where pleasures never die.
(repeat in harmony) Refrain
4. We will walk the golden streets (3X) of the new Jerusalem.
(repeat in harmony) Refrain
NELLY WAS A LADY, Stephen C. Foster
Refrain: Nelly was a lady, Last night she died, Toll the bell for
lovely Nell, my dark Virginny bride.
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OH! SUSANNA, Stephen C. Foster
1. I came from Alabama with my banjo on my knee, I’m gone to
Louisiana my true love for to see,
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry, the sun
so hot I froze to death; Susanna don’t you cry.
Refrain:
Oh! Susanna, oh! don’t you cry for me, I’ve come
from Alabama with my banjo on my knee. (2x)
3. I had a dream the other night, when ev’rything was still. I
thought I saw Susanna, a-comin’ down the hill.
The buckwheat cake was in her mouth, the tear was in her eye;
Says I, I’m coming from the South, Susanna don’t you cry. Refrain
4. I soon will be in New Orleans, and then I’ll look all round, and
when I find Susanna, I’ll fall upon the ground.
But if I do not find her, this fellow’ll surely die, and when I’m
dead and buried, Susanna don’t you cry. Refrain
OLD DAN TUCKER, Daniel Decatur Emmett
Refrain:
Git out the way [CLAP, CLAP, CLAP], git out the
way [CLAP, CLAP, CLAP] (Won’t you) git out the way, Old Dan
tucker, you’re too late to git your supper!
THE PICTURE ON THE WALL, Henry Clay Work
‘Tis noon of night: the sable clouds hang weeping in the sky;
Alone I sit, where fancies flit like spectral shadows by.
Me thinks I see familiar forms, and on before them all–
So fair, so calm, so wondrous like, wondrous like the picture on the
wall. (over)
Refrain: Among the brave and loyal, how many lov’d ones fall!
Whose friends bereft, Have only left, only left a picture on the wall.
2. I hear the press of eager feet, upon my parlor floor’
A moment, and my willing arms enclasp my boy once more.
I feel his warm breath on my cheek, but when his name I call
A shadowy finger points me to, points me to his picture on the wall.
Refrain
3. The moon’s full radiance struggles through, and lights my room
once more;
And thus shall heav’n, O heart of mine, thy seeming loss restore.
Its light shall gild the present gloom, and sweeter spells enthrall,
Than that which binds me to this sweet, to this sweet true picture on
the wall. Refrain
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