War Songs (1861–1864)

BY NORTHERN POETS

D. "THE BATTLE-CRY OF FREEDOM"

BY GEORGE FREDERICK ROOT

YES, we’ll rally round the flag, boys, we’ll rally once again, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom, We will rally from the hill-side, we’ll gather from the plain, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.

Chorus.—The Union forever, hurrah! boys, hurrah, Down with the traitor, up with the star, While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.

We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom, And we’ll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.—Chorus.

We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true, and brave, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom, And altho’ they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.—Chorus.

So we’re springing to the call from the East and from the West, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom, And we’ll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love the best, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom.—Chorus.

From reprints in (edited by Frank Moore, New York, 1864), 78; (edited by George Cary Eggleston, New York, etc., [1889], II, 160, 271, 275.