Images of the Tramp from the 19th Century Media
Contents
The Tramp in 19th Century Popular Song
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! was a Northern song written by George F. Root (1820-1895). It was so popular the Confederacy created their own lyrics. George Root's other tunes include The Vacant Chair, Battle Cry of Freedom and Just Before the Battle Mother.
Lyrics
- 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.
Chorus:
- 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 they 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.
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 seing home and friends once more.
In my prison cell I sit, thinking, Mother, dear, of you, and my happy Southern home so far away; and my eyes they fill with tears 'spite of all that I can do, though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! The boys are marching; cheer up, comrades, they will come. And beneath the stars and bars we shall breathe the air again of freemen in our own beloved home..
Southern Lyrics
In the battle front we stood when their fiercest charge they made, and our soldiers by the thousands sank to die; but before they reached our lines, they were driven back dismayed, and the "Rebel yell"went upward to the sky.
Now our great commander Lee crosses broad potomac's stream, and his legions marching Northward take their way. On pennsylvania's roads will their trusty muskets gleam, and her iron hills shall echo to the fray.
In the cruel stockade-pen dying slowly day by day, for weary months we've waited all in vain; but if God will speed the way of our gallant boys in gray, I shall see your face, dear Mother, yet again.
When I close my eyes in sleep, all the dear ones 'round me come, at night my little sister to me calls; and mocking visions bring all the warm delights of home, while we freeze and starve in Northern prison walls.
So the weary days go by, and we wonder as we sigh, if with sight of home we'll never more be blessed. Our hearts within us sink, and we murmur, though we try to leave it all with him who knowest best.
LYRICS Bring the good ol' Bugle boys! We'll sing another song, Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along, Sing it like we used to sing it fifty thousand strong, While we were marching through Georgia
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the Jubilee.
Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free, So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea, While we were marching through Georgia.
How the darkeys shouted when they heard the joyful sound, How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found, How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground, While we were marching through Georgia.
Yes and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears, When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years; Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers, While we were marching through Georgia.
"Sherman's dashing Yankee boys will never make the coast!" So the saucy rebels said and 'twas a handsome boast Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon with the Host While we were marching through Georgia.
So we made a thoroughfare for freedom and her train, Sixty miles of latitude, three hundred to the main; Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain While we were marching through Georgia.
Irish adaptation
One version of the chorus for Come In is as follows:
- Come in, come in, I'll do the best I can
- Come in, come in, bring the whole bloody clan
- Take it slow and easy, and I'll shake you by the hand
- Set you down, I'll treat you decent, I'm an Irishman
References
- Eicher, David J., The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War, Simon & Schuster, 2001, ISBN 0-684-84944-5.
External links
- "Marching Through Georgia", Harlan & Stanley (Edison Gold Moulded, 1904)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.
- Marching Through Georgia sheet music.
- Marching Through Georgia MIDI.
- "I am a Union Man" - Marching Through Georgia.
External links
- "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!", Harlan & Stanley (Edison Gold 9439, 1905)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.
