The Battle Hymn is clearly one for the ages. Dixie is also a great tune, although originally a northern melody. I also stand up for Rally Round the Flag and Bonnie Blue Flag. There's no reason our children shouldn't love them all.
Ole
"Battle Hymn Of The Republic" & "Dixie"- What Would You Teach Your Kid?
Actually I think both are pretty cool songs and my kid will know both. BHR is this incredibly strong , heartfelt song that even being raised in the South I was taught ,learned and loved- powerful. Dixie is, as the rebels were, more flamboyant and carefree and flat out a great tune.
The Battle Hymn is clearly one for the ages. Dixie is also a great tune, although originally a northern melody. I also stand up for Rally Round the Flag and Bonnie Blue Flag. There's no reason our children shouldn't love them all.
Ole
Life is not about waiting out the storm. Life is about learning to dance in the rain.
Both tunes.
My kids know more Civil War songs (from both sides) than they do "modern" songs. That was our traveling music when we went reenacting. (We have an 8-10 hour drive to an event of any size.) So they know a lot of Stephen Foster songs, minstrel songs like Dixie, and 1860s popular songs. They even know the verse of Dixie that talks about Will de Weeber!
Zou
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. The trick is to give 'em some exposure to quality. The music of the 19th century certainly provides this in abundance. Young Grandson will certainly hear the full story as long as I can get his attention. The goal is to reach a young mind with the truth and an open outlook. They're smart enough to go from there. Dixie played with a moderately slow tempo sounds somewhat like a hymn. Take a listen to the soundtrack of the movie Gettysburg...
I have a fair sized collection of WBTS music and "Dixie" has to be my all time favorite. I probably have more than a dozen recordings by various artists (Lee Greenwood's is the best, IMO). My next two favorites are "Riding a Raid" and "Goober Peas".
I think our kids should be exposed to all of it.
Rose
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names".--J.F.K.
The War Between the States established... This principle that the Federal Government is, through its courts, this final judge of its own powers.
-- Woodrow Wilson
My foot pats, keeping time to both "Dixie", and "Battle Cry of Freedom". And "Battle Hymn" and "Bonnie Blue Flag". It won't stop. Concrete blocks and bricks may stop my foot, but then my toes will move up and down inside my shoe. Whattaya gonna do?
Terry
Last edited by william42; 08-11-2006 at 12:10 PM.
"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
They are both beautiful and symbolic... priceless treasures of our heritage. However, it is nearly impossible to find a full, high quality marching band version of "Dixie" anymore.
When I was in college, the band (the Dixie Redcoat Band), would play a stirring version of "Dixie"... made the hair on your arms stand straight up... We stood, removed our hats and placed our hands over our hearts.
But now you can't find it, or anything remotely like it, unless the recording sounds like it was made over the telephone.
It's "politically incorrect". Shame on us!
Hell, the band is now known as the Redcoat Band, dropping "Dixie" altogether. The shame... the shame.
Now if some segment of the population could get their panties wadded up over "Redcoat" as it would seem some could... we could just call them "the Band" and nobody could potentially be "offended".
Jkeith, yes, that PC stuff stinks to high heaven. It's gotten out of hand to the point of being ridiculous, the lengths some people will go to not offend. It's actually laughable at this point.
Where I live is very close to Kentucky, and when I was in high school, in the early '70's you could drive anywhere in town and hear "Dixie" played on car horns. Usually just the first line, you know, "Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton!". You'd be sitting in a long line of traffic somewhere, at a light or whatever, then somebody would hit their horn and you'd hear that tune. It's been years since I've heard that. It was fun to listen to, but I suppose it's out of style now. I don't know if that's a political correctness issue or just out of style. I wonder if you can still hear it on car horns in the south?
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
Occasionally on car horns, but often as cell phone ring tones.Originally Posted by william42
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
As a child, I was taught "Battle Hymn" but my grandmother refused to allow its singing; her father was a Confederate veteran. Unlike many today, she understood the song to imply that God was on the side of the Union.
I remember reading somewhere about Mr.Lincoln 's fondness for Dixie.
He was returning from a tour of army camps in the Richmond area in early April of 1865 aboard a steamer heading back to Washington. An Army band began to serenade the President when he turned to a guest, a young French count: "Have you heard the Rebel song,'Dixie'?" The count shook his head.
"The tune is now Federal property," Lincoln said "and it's good to show the Rebels that with us in power, they will be free to hear it again. It has always been a favorite of mine, and since we've captured it, we have a perfect right to enjoy it."
I'm guessing the band was a little surprised.
Yankee Doodle
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"Oh, just burn a barn or something. Make smoke like the Indians do." Sherman's reply as to how he would know where his cavalry was in Georgia.
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Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf; 2nd IL Lt Art; 12th IL Inf(3 mo.), 37th IL Inf; 127th IL Inf; 19th IL Inf; 20th IL Inf; 131st IL Inf;
Ancestors in CSA Army: 2nd TN Inf (Walker's), 9th TN Cav (Bennett's/Ward's); 2nd TX Inf
Yankee Doodle
Honestly, is macaroni really in the original lyrics? I can see maybe...noodle.
mararoni is in the original song, it being slang for fashionable or foppish in the 18th century. The general sense is the ridiculousness of American soldiers. Yankee Doodle has several early versions, some very crude.
The fifes and drums of the British force approaching Concord on April 19, 1775 played "Yankee Doodle" as did the Minutemen gathering to oppose them.
No music on the long, ghastly retreat back, however.
I would definately teach my children both songs. Both are great songs to enjoy and even to learn from.
Both Ole, I haven't been able to Bonnie Blue Flag since that rather "unique" rendition of it in Gods and Generals. lol
Bart
"Thank You....Noooo."
Major Charles Emerson Winchester III
M.A.S.H. 4077th
Lincoln actually did make the comment that he liked the song "Dixie"- of course his wife's brother did fight in the Confederacy.
As a child, I was taught both. I don't see why both can't be taught today. Now, the Bonnie Blue flag is something else - especially with the lyric, "fighting for our property..."
Hey, I saw the printer's plate in the Charleston Museum and it said those exact words.
We teach both in our (northern) school as I think it is important to have children learn both.
Oh, and somewhere in a school this year, some parent forced the school's music teacher to drop "Jump Down, Turn Around, Pick a Bale ** Cotton" because the song was ab*** slavery. Now I learned that song as a kid, and I don't think it necessarily has to be blacks or slaves picking that cotton. A lot ** free blacks and whites picked plenty ** cotton, I'll reckon.
I'm not as conservative as I gather some members ** this board are, but by golly, I think it is really ridiculous the lengths we go to in order to 'protect' someone from 'something'.
And our kids sang i"Jump Down" this spring at their concert as they do mostly American folk songs. Good grief, what's next, no more "I Dream ** Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair" as it implies stalking??
"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
My mother-in-law was white and born to a very poor family. She told me ab*** chopping cotton and picking cotton. I never asked her what "chopping cotton" was. I assumed it was hoeing the weeds ***?? Besides her, I've heard many older whites in the S***h talk ab*** their days ** picking cotton.
Rose
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names".--J.F.K.
The War Between the States established... This principle that the Federal Government is, through its courts, this final judge of its own powers.
-- Woodrow Wilson
To All,
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
I digitized the album by Bob Thornton (Songs ** the S***h Vol. 1) and play the CD in my truck. The looks I get..........like the war never ended.
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
both
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.
correction
Sorry....... It is Bob Horton. Great Musician. Love his banjo pic-kin.
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