The Battle Cry of Freedom

Although instrumental music was linked to almost every step the soldier made, it was the songs that mattered most. Sung by soldiers and by those who stayed behind, it was the songs that truly expressed the emotions, fired the patriotism and filled the emptiness felt by leaving loved ones at home and facing death at every turn.

No Union song fired up the flames of patriotism among both soldiers and civilians as "The Battle Cry of Freedom."

It was composed by George F. Root on May 3, 1861 after he heard that President Lincoln had announced that the army and navy would need 175,000 more men to join. Root hoped that by writing this song it would encourage northern men to join the war. (Root had written "The First Gun Is Fired" only 2 weeks earlier.)

"The Battle Cry of Freedom" became so popular that not only was it sung at war rallies all across the North, but several Union Generals ordered their men to sing it while charging into battle!

The Battle Cry Of Freedom

1. Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom,

We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitors, up with the stars;

While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

2. We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

And we'll fill our vacant ranks with a million freemen more,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitors, up with the stars;

While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

3. We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

And although they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitors, up with the stars;

While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

4. 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 best,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitors, up with the stars;

While we rally round the flag, boys, we rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

The Battle Cry Of Freedom for UKULELE

(In the key of C. This does not match the video)