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Topic: Battle Cry Of Freedom |
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 15 Jul 2005 4:11 pm |
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Man, got to tell ya. I just love this song.
It's a classic Civil War era song. Many were written back then. Stephen Foster, "Swanee River".
I never get sick of these songs. Some times they bring those tears.
What I gather is that a lot of these "era" songs were actually created very quickly. Like, let's go boys, the travelin' train is ready to go, and, we need some new tunes, to keep us "ahead of the competition", soda speak.
Lloyd Green on his latest CD, REVISITED, plays "Ashokan Farewell". This song, mysteriously, sounds like it was written back in the Civil War era, only to find out that it was written and performed by Jay Ungar. A sort of obscure fiddler, but who has performed admirably with the likes of David Bromberg and David Grisman, to name a few. Jay runs a folkish/dance type of retreat in Ashokan County,NY in upstate NY.
"Ashokan Farewell" was the basic theme song that ran thru the entire David Burns PBS documentary "The Civil War".
God, I just love this stuff. Past and present.
The chord changes in BCOF are just super. They're easy. OK, but the way they FLOW, is what pikes me. Do you fellas and gals Know of this tune? I wish I were smart enuff to put a sound file of "Battle Cry Of Freedom" up here on the Forum, but I don't have a clue.
Maybe some of you guys/gals could help me out. It's a great tune, and I know ya'll will recognize it, especially all of our southern folk.
Chipper
[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 15 July 2005 at 05:15 PM.] |
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Mark Lind-Hanson
From:
Menlo Park, California, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2005 11:05 am
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| The southern folk might RECOGNIZE it, but (just FYI) it was a Union marching song... |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 Jul 2005 11:22 am
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Mark,
You're absolutely correct. But somehow all these years, I associated it with the South.
However, there is I believe, a Southern version; written after the Northern version.
It was the Rebels' answer cry to the Yanks.
Kind of like "The Wild Side Of Life" and "God Didn't Make Honky Tonk Angels".
I'll see if I can dig up both versions. |
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Archie Nicol R.I.P.
From:
Ayrshire, Scotland
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Posted 18 Jul 2005 2:31 pm
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Check out Jay and Molly Masons' stuff, especially their live work. `Lorena` is my favourite. The Ken Burns series was shown over here as was a `Songs of the American Civil War` programme which featured contemporary artists performing civil war songs. It had John Hartford, Cathy Matea, Hoyt Axton, Richie Havens and others. I would love to know if it's available on cd.
Cheers, Arch. |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Jul 2005 1:26 pm
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Another good civil war era song is "Sweet Lorena". It was the theme for the John Wayne movie "The Horse Soldiers", and the Po' Boys also did it on one of their albums with (I believe) Sonny Garrish playing it on steel.
Of course, "Aura Lee" was re-written into "Love Me Tender" for Elvis, too. Can't forget that one! |
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Archie Nicol R.I.P.
From:
Ayrshire, Scotland
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 21 Jul 2005 8:20 pm
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Thanks Archie. I couldn't locate your version, so I had to settle for my banjo version.
I like the way the melody moves along with the sort of simple bass, but in spots, the bass takes off, with runs and walk downs. Really opens up the song.
G Em B7 C G A[7] D[7]
G Em B7 C G Em D[7] G
chorus: G C G C G D[7]
G Em B7 C G Em D[7] G
[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 21 July 2005 at 09:22 PM.] [This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 21 July 2005 at 09:23 PM.] |
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Archie Nicol R.I.P.
From:
Ayrshire, Scotland
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