The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

[lambrew]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

"When Johnnie comes marching home". No one seems to know the lyrics other rhan the first verse. But I have to admit that when the whole company whistles it, and gets the whole "Bridge of river Kwai" thing going it sounds kinda cool. And just like "Marching through Georgia" the tune is often sung/played out of the proper time frame. Johnnie wasn't written until after the battle of Gettysburg if I remember right.

Respectfully....
Sean Collicott

[Pat.Lewis]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

"Irish" music is certainly well represented in sheet music of the time, of course not really written by Irish people or accurately representing their culture, unless you believe all Irish people and their descendants are all mere drunken brawlers. Stereotypes were "in" and people liked to sing about them.

Excellent point. The minstrel stage was not a place to glorify or heroize, it was a place for mockery, and social regulation through "othering" minorities of all sorts. When so many in this hobby are quick to jump in defense of breaking the n-word taboo in first person "because it accurately represents the racism of the time," I think it only fitting and appropriate that we play fair with all stereotypes on the 1860s table, the Irish included. The problem is, the Irish have been normalized in the intervening century, have been brought fully into mainstream white American society, and there are today many who are justly proud of their heritage. But pride doesn't fit the impression of 186x. Unless you've got the (proper) accent to back up an Irish impression; fear, mistrust, and mockery are your proper responses to Irishness.

When and if you choose to sing Irish or minstrel-Irish music at an event, consider tunes that depict them in the "drunken brawler" role. If you are a "native" company, throw on the lucky charms accent and play up the stereotypes. For that matter, find out the political leanings of the men you are portraying. See if their home county had strong Know Nothing leanings in the 1850s. If they were Whig counties in the 1840s, North or South, you can bet they were. Discuss the Irish, if you find such, as political threats to America. The next time someone fires up the "Minstrel Boy" around the campfire, rail at them like a loyal native American. Bet you haven't gotten in that political debate around the campfire.

The point is, I'm not arguing against Irish or minstrel-Irish music being present during the war, I'm just arguing that it is often sung by reenactors without understanding or accurately representing the ethnic prejudice with which it was loaded in 1860s America. I would rather it not be sung at all if it is not sung with an eye to contextual accuracy.

[Old Cremona]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

That's good stuff you wrote there, Pat me boy.:wink_smil It makes one pause for a second when considering all the fine points of a correct impression.

My buddy Dan Partner once said of minstrel banjo playing, "We're not delineators and cannot be. The Zeitgeist has moved so far as to be in a different galaxy."

Which is not to denigrate the excellent work of so many top-notch living historians that frequent this board. Just a thought about the shifting nature of societal strictures.

[Arch Campbell]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP, but I would expand it to not just patriotic songs, but ANY song written DURING (and especially ABOUT) the War.
I was excited to see the anti-Irish discussion here. My mess (Hairy Nation) has been virulently anti-Irish (in first person) for fifteen years. It's always interesting when someone tries out their Darby O'Gill voice in our ranks. After being stunned by the unexpected nativist sentiment from the rest of the company, they usually trail off pretty quickly. When someone tries to strike up an Irish tune around our fire they are quickly shouted down. It is simply not tolerated.
(I should point out that neither I or my pards espouse these views in the real world. For me, first person just isn't enjoyable unless Arch is very different from me.)

[DonH]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Yes, most patriotic tunes, except for maybe Hail Columbia which I personally rarely hear. Bonnie Blue Flag is a tune I simply can not stand anymore after hearing it like 30 times in one day at a re-eactment a few years back. But some fife and drum tunes (that I might like) but are still overplayed at CW events: anything by Roy Watrous (a rather famous fifer who just passed away like 2 or so years ago), anything post-CW in fact (like Grandfather's Clock), and Green Cockade, Jaybird & Fireman's, Downfall of Paris, Hell on the wabash, and the list goes on... Don't get me wrong though, I do like the last three tunes I mentioned, but they're seriously played too much sometimes!

As for "Marching Through Georgia," I've often heard that the song was written to the older tune "The Bedbug and the Flea." I haven't seen any actual reference to this, perhaps one of you has...

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Most annoying song:

"Goober Peas"

'Nuff said... Johnny Lloyd

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

If I here Jolly Grog one more time I will snap, I just hate that song, and it is around every campfire and everyone is drinking singing it poorly. Please ban it from reenacting.

[-Jesse-]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Im gonna go ahead and agree that the award for most annoying goes to "Goober Peas".

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Hell on the Wabash, Jaybird -Fireman,Road to Boston, 1812 in the fife and drum world.

Around the campfire... Anything with a fake Irish Accent.

Out in the field or at a CW event period... Anything on a bagpipe.

As for the Bonnie Blue Flag, Dixie and Army 6/8 and Army 2/4..... I can't get enough of it.... They were all played often in the war.

As for most under represented tunes... I will throw this in as a wild card.

Lorena

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

If I here Jolly Grog one more time I will snap, I just hate that song, and it is around every campfire and everyone is drinking singing it poorly. Please ban it from reenacting.

Hallelujah and Amen!

[Bagman]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Paul,

I think you've just about got it right.

I do take exception to your objection to bagpipes however. Who among us is not spiritually tansported by the haunting skirl of the pipes playing 'Goober Peas' in camp on a starry night?:) And although my own research is just getting underway in this area, there is evidence to suggest that Bagpipes were deemed superior to fifes & drums and that, if they could be gotten in through the Federal blockade, they would have been much more prevalent throughout the Confederate armies than they apparently were. I guess it's another tragic example of what might have been; except for......:sarcastic

Jeff Christman
aka "Bagman"
Liberty Hall Fifes & Drums
Stonewall Brigade

[33rdaladrummer]

I agree with Paul on Bonnie Blue Flag, Dixie, Army 2-4 and Army 6-8, but you'll have to include Road to Boston in the same category as it was a very common tune as well. And it's a shame that Army 2-4 isn't good enough for a lot of drummers anymore. "Crazy Army" is replacing the old standard two-four. Luckily it hasn't infiltrated our hobby like it has the modern "ancient" fife and drum community. Oh well. 99% of drummers don't play Army 2-4 the way it is written in B&E, Howe, Hart, or the other period drum manuals anyway.

I've attached a story that Mark Jaeger found a while back. It shows an extreme example of how musicians could wear out a tune.

Jeff,

There is an excellent thread on bagpipers on the cwreenactors.com forum (or maybe I am being sarcastic as well). I like bagpipes as long as they are in Scotland where they belong, far enough away so that we don't have to hear them.


Will Chappell

[Cove Rebel]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Thanks guys. Now I am humming Goober Peas! Darn it!

I too grow weary of the Irish music done in a poor accent. I really have grown tired of Minstrel Boy but my least favorite is ANY song someone tries to sing and does not know the stinkin' words beyond the first verse! If ya wanna pipe up with something, at least know your subject matter! Bonnie Blue flag is the worst for that followed by Good 'Ol Rebel.

Russ Spry

[Bagman]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Thanks Wil....

I did a little more checking and came across an old thread here on the AC. Seems the bagpipe question has been knocked around before. It's axiomatic that there are more bagpipers in the US these days than during the 19th century.......and documentation on bagpipes use during the Civil War is scant. It's also true that references to the use of bagpipes by the British troops in 18th century North American campaigns are less obscure...( Rev War...French & Indian War).

However, Paul and you are right; and any representation in the CW reenacting community would likely be way overdone. After all, who has ever heard of the "Lone Piper of Antietam" from contemporary sources? Yet, I'm sure that there are those in the hobby, who fancy themselves pipers, who would be happy to portray him given the opportunity.

As the original question asked for opinions, Paul's opinion ... "anything on a bagpipe" ...stands on its own merits.....

"Some Men there are, who cannot contain their urine... when the bagpipe sings i' the nose"
William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice

Jeff Christman

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: The Overdone Songs of the Civil War

Jeff,

You always have a good sense of humor. It is good to see you reading this forum.

Bring your pipes to the Mojo Muster this weekend. Gina's Husband Dave would like them.

We will play Army 2/4 on our drums to The Minstrel Boy. We will see if we can not drown you out!

For those of you who do not Jeff, he is a great bag piper in the Tidewater Pipes and Drums.

Not to mention a snare drummer in the Liberty Hall Fifes and Drums.