Sheet Music from 1863: “Boys, Keep Your Powder Dry” #cw150

Boys, Keep your Powder Dry, sheet music, 1863. Original in the collections of Duke University Special Collections

Can’st tell who lost the battle,

Off in the council’s field?

Not they who struggle bravely,

Not they who never yield,

Not they who are determined

to conquer or to die:

And harken to this caution:

“Boys, keep your powder dry.”

 

Chorus:

Not they who are determined

to conquer or to die:

And harken to this caution:

“Boys, keep your powder dry.”

 

The foe awaits you yonder,

He may await you here;

Have brave hearts, stand with courage,

Be strangers, all, to fear:

And when the charge is given,

Be ready at the cry.

Look well each to his priming–

“Boys, keep your powder dry.”

 

Chorus:

 

Does a lov’d one home await you,

Who wept to see you go,

Whom with a kiss imprinted

You left with sacred vow

You’d come again, when warfare

And arms are all laid by,

To take her to your bosom?

“Boys, keep your powder dry.”

 

Chorus:

 

Does a father home await you?

A sister whom you love?

A mother who hast reared you,

And prayed to Him above:

“Protect my boy, preserve him,

And when the battle’s done,

Send to his weeping mother,

Bereft, her darling son!”

 

Chorus:

 

The name of Freedom calls you,

The names of martyr’d sires,

And Liberty’s imploring

From all her hallowed fires.

Can you withstand their calling?

You can not pass them by–

You can not? Now, charge fiercely!

“Boys, keep your powder dry.”

 

 Source: Duke University Digital Collections: http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/hasm_conf0119/#info

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February 1863: Lyrics to the Bonnie Blue Flag in Fayetteville Observer #cw150

The Bonnie Blue Flag

By J.G. Thaggard, at Fort Fisher

 

We are a band of brothers

And natives to the soil

Fighting for our liberty

We gained by honest toil.

 

Huzza, huzza, for Souther Rights, huzza

Huzza for the bonnie blue flag,

That bears the single star.

 

And when our rights were threatened,

The cry rose near and far

Rally around the bonnie blue flag

That bears the single star.

 

Brave South Carolina,

She made a noble stand,

Out came Alabama and took her by the hand.

 

Jeff. Davis is our President

And Stephens statemsn are;

Rally around the bonnie blue flag

That bears the single star.

 

Brave old Virginia,

The Old Dominion State,

With the young Confederacy

Has lengthened the link of fate.

 

Cheer boys, cheer, and raise a joyful shout,

For Arkansas and North Carolina

Have both now come out

 

And let another heering

For Tennessee be given

And hoist on high the bonnie blue flag

That bears the single star.

 

The “Bonnie Blue Flag” was first published in 1861 and became a popular song throughout the Confederacy.  The Fayetteville Observer published the lyrics in 1863 with some re-writes from a soldier at Fort Fisher.

Cover of sheet music for the Bonnie Blue Flag, collections of Duke University, Historic American Sheet Music Collection.

 

Source: Fayetteville Observer, February 19, 1863 as found on www.ncecho.org. Music at Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music Collection.

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Adaptations of “Dixie”

We’ve just read a post earlier this morning from the Raleigh Register in which a unit of North Carolina soldiers adopted a variation of “Dixie” as their regimental song.  Below are links to earlier posts found in this blog that gave you two examples of “Dixie.”

 

“Dixie,” lyrics, image of sheet music front page from 1860, and links to additional information including an early audio recording : http://wp.me/p1qIB8-2I

 “Dixie War Song” lyrics, images, and links for more information: http://wp.me/p1qIB8-2L

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“Dixie War Song” 1861

“Dixie War Song” 1861

Southrons, hear your country call you,

Up, lest worse than death befall you!

To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!

Lo! all the beacon-fires are lighted,

Let all hearts be now united!

To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!

(Chorus)

Advance the flag of Dixie!

Hurrah! Hurrah!

In Dixie’s land we take our stand,

And live or die for Dixie!

To arms! To arms!

And conquer peace for Dixie!

To arms! To arms!

And conquer peace for Dixie!

Sources: 

 “Dixie War Song” [1861] http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/hasm_conf0427/#

“Dixie War Song” Performed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vPVTqWJd28

Wikiedia entry on “Dixie” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_(song)

Lyrics to versions of “Dixie” and “Dixie’s War Song:” http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dixie’s_Land

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“Dixie’s Land” 1860

Dixie’s Land, 1860

I wish I was in de land ob cotton,

Old times dar am not forgotten;

Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land.

In Dixie Land whar I was born in,

Early on one frosty mornin,

Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land.

(Chorus)

Den I wish I was in Dixie, Horray, Hooray,

In Dixie’s land, we’ll took our stand, To lib an die in Dixie,

Away, away, away down south in Dixie,

Away, away, away down south in Dixie.

 Sources:

“Dixie’s Land” [1860] http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/hasm_n0807/#

“Dixie’s Land” 1916 sound recording: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff58W_m2ipk&feature=related

Lyrics to versions of “Dixie” and “Dixie’s War Song:” http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dixie’s_Land

Wikipedia entry on “Dixie” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_(song)

 

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