Good Bye, Old Glory
Encyclopedia
"Good Bye, Old Glory" is a song published on September 29, 1865 after the end of the American Civil War
. The words are by L. J. Bates with music by George Frederick Root
.
It's subject is about the end of the war and the end of army life from a soldier's point of view.
Old Glory
is the Union flag. The "tattoo
" in the song refers to a military drum call.
Hard tack
, the battle of Vicksburg and a warning to
Britain
are referenced in the song.
Four weary years of toil and blood,
With loyal hearts and true,
By field and fortress plain and flood,
We've fought the rebel crew,
But Victory is ours at last,
The mighty work is through,
Sound drums and bugles loud and fast,
This is our last tattoo .
Chorus
Farewell farewell to march and fight,
Hard tack a fond adiew.
Good bye "Old Glory" for tonight,
We doff the army blue.
Verse 2
O comrades that may ne'er return,
Who sleep beneath the dew,
Where Vickburg's gleaming signal's burn or
Lookout's crest of blue.
Where-e'er your blood has sealed the faith,
We brought in triumph through,
Goodnight to glory and to death,
And that's good morn to you.
Chorus
Verse 3
Farewell to pens and prison holes,
Where fiends themselves broke through,
And tortured noble captive souls
That they could not subdue,
But in the fullness of the day
Heaven's justice did we do.
Disaster, famine, ruin, may
Make fearful answer true.
Chorus
Verse 4
Goodbye to muster and parade,
Goodbye the grand review,
The dusty line, the dashing aid,
Goodbye our general too.
Goodbye to war, but halt! I say,
John Bull
a word with you,
Pay up old scores or we again
May don the army blue.
Chorus
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The words are by L. J. Bates with music by George Frederick Root
George Frederick Root
George Frederick Root was an American songwriter, who found particular fame during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
.
It's subject is about the end of the war and the end of army life from a soldier's point of view.
Old Glory
Old Glory
Old Glory is a common nickname for the flag of the United States, bestowed by William Driver, an early nineteenth century American sea captain....
is the Union flag. The "tattoo
Military tattoo
The original meaning of military tattoo is a military drum performance, but nowadays it sometimes means army displays more generally.It dates from the 17th century when the British Army was fighting in the Low Countries...
" in the song refers to a military drum call.
Hard tack
Hard Tack
Hard Tack may refer to:*Hard Tack *Hardtack, a kind of biscuit...
, the battle of Vicksburg and a warning to
Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
are referenced in the song.
Lyrics
Verse 1Four weary years of toil and blood,
With loyal hearts and true,
By field and fortress plain and flood,
We've fought the rebel crew,
But Victory is ours at last,
The mighty work is through,
Sound drums and bugles loud and fast,
This is our last tattoo .
Chorus
Farewell farewell to march and fight,
Hard tack a fond adiew.
Good bye "Old Glory" for tonight,
We doff the army blue.
Verse 2
O comrades that may ne'er return,
Who sleep beneath the dew,
Where Vickburg's gleaming signal's burn or
Lookout's crest of blue.
Where-e'er your blood has sealed the faith,
We brought in triumph through,
Goodnight to glory and to death,
And that's good morn to you.
Chorus
Verse 3
Farewell to pens and prison holes,
Where fiends themselves broke through,
And tortured noble captive souls
That they could not subdue,
But in the fullness of the day
Heaven's justice did we do.
Disaster, famine, ruin, may
Make fearful answer true.
Chorus
Verse 4
Goodbye to muster and parade,
Goodbye the grand review,
The dusty line, the dashing aid,
Goodbye our general too.
Goodbye to war, but halt! I say,
John Bull
John Bull
John Bull is a national personification of Britain in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged man, often wearing a Union Flag waistcoat.-Origin:...
a word with you,
Pay up old scores or we again
May don the army blue.
Chorus