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As a reenactor and an American, I have sung both songs and have had them both bring tears to my eyes when I sing them. They represent, to me, the struggle and bravery o.f. the men o.f. both sides who fought for country and comrades. My wife and I have been at a reenactor ball many a time and the very last song we call for is 'Dixie.' It is sung at a slow, reverant pace, almost like a prayer, and it brings to me the courage o.f. men who fought long and hard for one another and their country.
I have sung the Battle Hym o.f. the Republic on the march and in meeting halls and I never fail to shiver at it. I am proud to be an American, to have such a heritage and a pride in a country that still has a long way to go to reach its full potential. The North and the So.u.t.h make up that country in which I am so proud and I am glad to have family from both sides o.f. that long ago conflict. It has made me a better American.
I agree with Miss Markie that the banning o.f. songs to 'protect' our children is just flat o.u.t. wrong, as it is more apt to make our children repeat the mistakes o.f. the past or fail to learn from it. History should be learned, warts and all, or where is the lesson to be learned?
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Just asking, Rad, do you mean Bob Horton? Although I do know that Billy Bob Thornton did make a few recordings...
__________________ "Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage." - R. E. Lee
In the Church I attend we will sing both songs depending on the Music Leader mood. " The Battle Hymn Of the Republic" is a very stirring song, I really love the verse talking about Christ dieing to make me free form their sins. And as for a "Dixie" . Being a born & rasied Southern, "Dixie" get my feet patting & heart thumping a quick beat every time.
Bob Horton. That rings a bell. My wife and I took a Civil War theme riverboat cruise, on the Mississippi Queen in '99 from Chattanooga to Memphis, up the Tennessee, and a guy named Bobby Horton came on the boat one night and played banjo, fiddle, guitar, sang some civil war tunes, one of which was, "Shiloh Hill". We had just visited Shiloh battlefield that day. "Shiloh Hill" was a ballad (slow, mournful song) written by a Johnny Reb who fought there, who lost his two brothers on the field, killed. By the end of the tune Bobby had just about eveybody, including myself, weeping. He was really good. Bought a couple of cassettes from him. Nice fellow, very southern, great musician. May be who you're talking about.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
I am a music teacher in Tennessee and I teach both songs and the students love both. Although their favorite war song is Goober Peas. Many of the songs that we think of today as classic songs such as the Stephen Foster songs and many others are Civil War period or just before. It is important for the students to know there hertiage in music as well as there history. It is great to know what happened in Europe, Asia, or Africa hundreds of years ago. But not at the expense of your own heritage. I live in Murfreesboro were the Battle of Stones River took place and many students don't even know what happened in there back yards. I am trying to change that one student at a time if possible.
Very worthy endeavor Jason. I grew up on Stephen Foster tunes that we sang in music class. Just the teacher, a piano, and us kids. Mrs. Rheinhart handed out a book of his songs that contained "I dream of Jeannie", and "Suwanee River". I always thought that Foster must have been a sort of a melancholy person because the lyrics to Suwanee contained the line, "All the world is sad and dreary, everywhere I go."
We also sang "Shenandoah", and others that I can't remember, now. "Wait for the Wagon", was one, and "Waltzing Matilda", which is Australian I guess. It's nice to learn songs from other countries but equally important to learn the old tunes that were sung in this one, as well.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
While my son is approaching his 24th birthday and still listens to some stuff that hurts the left side of my head. Amazing enough when I drove his pickup for a couple of hours last week, I discovered some music I actually played for him on the way to school and baseball games for a few years. As many of you know, you can't always tell when young folks are listening.
Larry, that is just too cool! It's quite amazing when you find out the little (expletive deletedf) actually heard you and paid attention when you were on one of your rants. Did that with mine this past weekend, although he's a quite a bit older than yours, and it's so good to see that some of the slop we dished out actually took hold. Life really is good, isn't it?
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
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