[346] sea-song was dedicated to ‘gallant Admiral Semmes of the Alabama and to the officers and seamen of the C. S. Navy.’
The wind blows off yon rocky shore,
Boys, set your sails all free:
And soon the booming cannon's roar
Shall ring out merrily.
Run up your bunting, caught a-peak,
And swear, lads, to defend her:
'Gainst every foe, where'er we go,
Our motto—‘No surrender.’
Chorus—
Then sling the bowl, drink every soul
A toast to the Alabama,
Whate'er our lot, through storm or shot,
Here's success to the Alabama.
The Southern soldier boy
Air: the boy with the Auburn hair. as sung by Miss Sallie Partington, in the Virginia Cavalier, Richmond, Va., 1863. composed by Captain G. W. Alexander. the sentiments of this song pleased the Confederate soldiers, and for more than a year, the New Richmond theater was nightly filled by ‘blockade Rebels,’ who greeted with wild hurrahs, ‘Miss Sallie’ the prima donna of the Confederacy.Bob Roebuck is my sweetheart's name,
He's off to the wars and gone,
He's fighting for his Nannie dear,
His sword is buckled on;
He's fighting for his own true love,
His foes he does defy;
He is the darling of my heart,
My Southern soldier boy.
Chorus-
Yo! ho! yo! ho! yo! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho!
He is my only joy,
He is the darling of my heart,
My Southern soldier boy.
‘The Zouaves’
J. Howard Wainwright
Published in New York evening post, 1861. the Zouaves was one of the many spirited songs sung in memory of Col. Ephraim E. Ellsworth, of the New York fire Zouaves. The Brooklyn Zouaves attained a place in history at the first day's battle at Gettysburg, by their efficiency under fire and the bravery of their Colonel.Onward, Zouaves,—Ellsworth's spirit leads us;
Onward, Zouaves, for our country needs us;
Onward, Zouaves, for our banner floats o'er us;
Onward Zouaves, for the foe is before us.
Chorus—
Onward Zouaves!
Do nothing by halves:
Home to the hilt, with the bay'net, Zouaves.
The songs of Stephen C. Foster
Stephen C. Foster, an American song-writer of Irish descent, was the most famous American folk-song writer of his day. While many of the songs antedate the actual years of the war, they were sung far and wide throughout the struggle and have continued to be popular down to the present day. Half a million copies were sold of Swanee Rubber, and as many more of My old Kentucky home and Massa's in the cold, cold ground.My old Kentucky home, good night
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home;
'Tis summer, the darkeys are gay,
The corn-top “s ripe and the meadow ” s in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By-'n-by hard times comes a-knocking at the door:—
Then my old Kentucky home, good-night!
Chorus—
Weep no more, my lady,
Oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
For the old Kentucky home, far away.
Old folks at home
Way down upon de Swanee Ribber,
Far, far away,
Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber,
Dere's wha de old folks stay.
All up and down de whole creation
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for de old plantation,
And for de old folks at home!
Chorus-
All de world am sad and dreary,
Ebery where I roam;
Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home!
