From: cowan@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu (P.L. Cowan)
Newsgroups: alt.war.civil.usa,rec.music.folk,alt.war
Subject: Union Army recruitment song (lyrics)
Date: 22 Jan 93 10:29:49 -0800
Organization: SSRL, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lab
NNTP-Posting-Host: ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu

A couple of months ago Mark Jerome posted (on alt.war.civil.usa) the
lyrics of my favorite Civil War song, _The_Battle_of_Shiloh_Hill_. I
think my second favorite song of that era is a Union-Army recruitment
song. I am sure the words strike my post-1960s ears differently
than they did the soldiers who promptly signed-up.

I have transcribed the words from a tape by Jim Morgan. Morgan lives
in Martinsburg WVa. and is often present at re-enactments at the
eastern battlefields. (He's an artillery sergeant in a Union
battery). His tapes are also sold in most of the battlefield book
stores. 

                     The Question Song

Where, where, where and where? Where are you bound young man?
Where, where, where and where? Where are you bound young man?
     Well, I'm off to the War with the good men and true.
     Hadn't you better come along too?
     I speak my mind quite freely. Now really.

But, why, why, why and why? Why to the War young man?
Why, why, why and why? Why to the War young man?
     Has a man ever fought for a Holier cause,
     Than Freedom, the Flag and Equal Laws?
     I speak my mind quite freely. Now really.

But, which, which, which and which? Which is the Flag of the Free?
Which, which, which and which? Which is the Flag of the Free?
     Washington's Flag with the stripes and the stars!
     Would you give such a name to that thing with the bars?
     I speak my mind quite freely. Now really.

But, who, who, who and who? Who goes with you to the War?
Who, who, who and who? Who goes with you to the War?
     Ten-thousand brave lads, and if they should stay here,
     The girls would cry, "Shame!" and THEY'D volunteer.
     I speak my mind quite freely. Now really.

But, when, when, when and when? When do you mean to be back?
When, when, when and when? When do you mean to be back?
     When rebellion is crushed, and the Union restored, 
     And Freedom is safe! Yes then, please the Lord.
     I speak my mind quite freely. Now really.

But, what, what, what and what? What will you gain by that?
What, what, what and what? What will you gain by that?
     I'll have gained quite enough, whatever the cost,
     If Freedom the hope of the world isn't lost.
     I speak my mind quite freely. Now really.

I have a few questions about this song. I assume "Washington's Flag" 
means Geo. Washington's flag rather than the flag of the administration
in Washington. 

The reference to "ten-thousand" when hundreds of thousands were called
puzzles me. This song might have originated during the recruitment in
a particular state, but it also may just be poetic licence. 

The emphasis on "THEY'D" is mine. As Jim Morgan sings the song, it
seems "they" refers to the "lads" who would relent and enlist, but
after listening to the words many times, I think "THEY" are the girls
themselves.

It's too bad I can't transmit the tune. It's the sort of song that sounds
best sung from the diaphram ala the Weavers.

-- 
Paul Cowan     
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