Song of the North, “Battle Cry of Freedom”
In 1861, George Root wrote this song as a response to the news that the president, Abraham Lincoln, had asked for 175, 000 more men for battle (Waller et al. (2001) p. 149). The lyrics of the song instill a strong sense of unity among the Union states as well provide the atmosphere of negative feelings towards the Confederacy. “The Union forever,” is how the chorus of the song begins, followed shortly by the words, “Down with the traitors.” This song helps to create the image of the strong division between the North and South during the Civil War and how at that point in time, they truly were like two separate nations, with their own national songs and unifying customs.
The "Battle Cry of Freedom" played a very similar role for the Union as "Bonnie Blue Flag" did for the Confederacy. It was sung by soldiers and citizens of the Union to rally together and celebrate the cause of the war. It was also used politically as a campaign song for Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson in their 1864 election (source 9). This song was extremely popular, to the extent where it "has been estimated that 700,000 printed copies of this song were put into circulation,"(source 10).
The "Battle Cry of Freedom" played a very similar role for the Union as "Bonnie Blue Flag" did for the Confederacy. It was sung by soldiers and citizens of the Union to rally together and celebrate the cause of the war. It was also used politically as a campaign song for Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson in their 1864 election (source 9). This song was extremely popular, to the extent where it "has been estimated that 700,000 printed copies of this song were put into circulation,"(source 10).
The Battle Cry of Freedom
As performed by the 8th Regiment Band
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!
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 with a million freemen more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we’ll fill our vacant ranks of our brothers gone before,
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 although he may be poor, he shall never 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 best,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
CHORUS