Songs and Ballads of the Southern People: 1861-1865
History
Songs and Ballads of the Southern People: 1861-1865
American poetry -- Southern States; Southern States -- Poetry; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Poetry; War poetry, American
Rebels! 'tis our dying name!
For, although life is dear,
Yet, freemen born and freemen bred,
We'd rather live as freemen dead,
Than live in slavish fear.
Then call us rebels, if you will--
We glory in the name;
For bending under unjust laws,
And swearing faith to an unjust cause,
We count a greater shame.
_Atlanta Confederacy._
THE HEART OF LOUISIANA.
BY HARRIET STANTON.
Oh! let me weep, while o'er our land
Vile discord strides, with sullen brow,
And drags to earth, with ruthless hand,
The flag no tyrant's power could bow!
Trailed in the dust, inglorious laid,
While one by one her stars retire,
And pride and power pursue the raid,
That bids our liberty expire.
Aye, let me weep! for surely Heaven
In anger views the unholy strife;
And angels weep that thus is riven
The tie that gave to Freedom life.
I can not shout--I will not sing
Loud paeans o'er a severed tie;
And, draped in woe, in tears I fling
Our State's new flag to greet the sky.
I can but choose, while senseless zeal
And lawless hate are clothed with power,
The bitter cup; but still I feel
The sadness of this parting hour!
I know that thousand hearts will bleed
While loud huzzas the welkin rend;
The thoughtless crowd will shout, Secede!
But ah! will this the conflict end?
Oh! let me weep and prostrate lie
Low at the footstool of my God;
I can not breathe one note of joy,
While yet I feel His chastening rod.
Sure, we have as a nation sinned--
Let every heart its folly own,
And sackcloth, as a girdle, bind,
And mourn our glorious Union gone!
Sisters, farewell! You know not half
The pain your pride, injustice, give;
You spurn our cause, and lightly laugh,
And hope no more the wrong shall live.
_New Orleans Delta._
SOUTHERN SONG OF FREEDOM.
AIR--"_The Minstrel's Return_."
A nation has sprung into life
Beneath the bright Cross of the South;
And now a loud call to the strife
Rings out from the shrill bugle's mouth.
They gather from morass and mountain,
They gather from prairie and mart,
To drink, at young Liberty's fountain,
The nectar that kindles the heart.
Then, hail to the land of the pine!
The home of the noble and free;
A palmetto wreath we'll entwine
Round the altar of young Liberty!
Our flag, with its cluster of stars,
Firm fixed in a field of pure blue,
All shining through red and white bars,
Now gallantly flutters in view.
The stalwart and brave round it rally,
They press to their lips every fold,
While the hymn swells from hill and from valley,
"Be, God, with our Volunteers bold."
Then, hail to the land of the pine! etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account