The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-02-01
SOME OLD-T1ME SONGS.
TUNES THAT WERE POPULAR DUR
ING THE WAR AND SINCE.
Sentimental Songs OF the Minstrels
,-Fsvorite War Tunes on Both
Sidea-Tater COmnosftfOna

How many of the popular songs OF
twenty years ago can the old boys OF
to-day recalll How many Of the old
melodies that thrilled them in the days
Of their hot youth have found an abiding
place in their memoryl The evolution
of the popular song presents a striking
illustration of the survival of the un-
tittest. The great sentimental success Of
the anti war period was undoubtedly
"Ben Bolt The untimely death of
something lovable and beautiful was the
unusual theme Of the sentimental song
of that period, though it varied occasion
ally in order 10 picture the heart havoc
caused by the separation of slave-lovers.
"Ben Bot' was a splendid illustration
of the prevailing theme. 1t was hummed,
whistled, sung ard played on musical in
struments for more than a decade. 1t
was immensely popular with the young
; ladies, many-of whom are now grand
mothers "Sweet Alice" was shrined in
every sentimental females heart, and
the question of the day was
Don't you remember sweet Alice, Ben Bolt,
Sweet Alice with hair so browns
She wept with delight when you gave her
smile
And trembled with fear at your frown.
Sharing "Ben Bolts" popularity dur.
ing the same period were two songs
widely sung by Dan Emmett, Dan
| Byrant and other Ministries. These were
"Nellie Gray" and go, Susannahr" both
depicting the sufferings of slave-lovers.
"Nellie Gray" swept the country like
cyclone:
My charming Nellie Gray,
They have taken you away,
And I'll never see my darling any more.
was heard on every side and voiced by
every tongue. 80, dear Susannah !"
was built more in the comic way, and
the request, "Don't you cry for me, " was
based on the consoling fact that 'l'm
going to Alabama with the banjo on my
knee" The pessimistic strain in which
the fate of certain 'old Niger" popu-
larly known as "Uncle Ned" was be-
moaned was well known before "Nellie
Gray" or "Susannah' appeared. Dan
Emmett's "Dixie" and Fosters "Swanee
River" have proven the most prominent
of the ante-war melodies. A sentimental
ballad called 'Lorena' was great favor
ite in the Cos, and for 80 years previous
the appearance and philosophy of "Old
Rosin the BOw"w known to every one.
\ state of warfare has always proved
conductive to song. The fourishing
condition of minstrelsy in ages past was
due largely to the warlike and adventur-
Gus spirit of the times. During
the civil war both sides were prolific in
song-making. The South made the first
great hit with Randall Maryland, My
Maryland The "Bonnie Blue lag
was the Southern national air and was TO
the boys in gray what yankee Doodle"
was to the boys in blue. The Southern
women ardently took it up, and through
every city rang the chorus:
Hurrah Hurrah! for Southern rights of war,
Hurrah! for the Bonnie Blue Flag that
bears the single star.
OF the sentimental songs of the war
period the most popular were "Fairy
Bell, ""Annie of the Dell, y "Just Before
the Battle, Mother, "Toll the Bell for
Lovely Nell," and "When This Cruel
War is Over In the North, "Wait for
the Wagon" and Tramp, Tramp,
Tramp, the Roys are Marching" had a
great success during the same period,
and Others that ran riot through camp
and fresde were "Mary Blame, cold
Cabin Home, "Fair, Fair with Go'den
Hair, and ''Daisy Dean" Who has
forgotten "Daisy Dean and its wistful
Chorusl
None knew thee but to love thee,
Thou dear one of my heart,
Thy memory is ever fresh and green;
The wild flowers may wither
And fond hearts be broken,
Still love thee, my.daIlilg, Daisy Dean,
A beautiful song, truly pathetic o.
tanned great popularity in both North
and South during the war THIS was
Florence Percy's "Rock Me to Sleep,
Mothern The South produced two war
songs that evince genuine poetic talent
and have been accorded unstinted prai,e
by the critics. They are the Conquered
Banner and GAN Quiet Along the Po-
tomac Tonight tie first named by
Father Ryan and the last by amar Foun.
taine. One of the most pathetic poems
that appeared during the war was
Somebody's Darling. The circus clown
was the great promulgator of popular
music during and Just after the war lie
was then in the full blaze of his glory.
Since then the blaze has degeneratcd to
spark, and that is threatening to 90 out,
But twenty years ago he was the b ggo,t
attraction in the ring, and his songs sold
like shares ina wild cat mining scheme.
The war songs were succeeded 10y whit
might be termed the Bllycmcrso ian
epoch These were the days when the
"Big SunfOwer' and - owe Among the
Roses were epidemic. The agile Billy
was the pioneer of the gcnteel song and
dance business, and when he sang
| feel just aS happy as biz sunAower
That mods and bends to the breeze7,
And my heart Is as light as the wind that
blows
The leaves from of the trees-eS.
he was pronounced unapproachable, Of
the same date is that ridiculous compost
ton: Captain Jinks of the Horse
Marines W. II. Iingard brought il
over from London and first sank it in MS
act of lightning changes, and while he
maintained intimate relations with
Captain Jinks' he prospcred. When
he attempted something higher he t
into trouble. pat Malloy," The
Charming Young Man on the Flying
Trapeze," "The Dark Girl Dressed in
Blue "The Fellow That Looks Like
Me, j." "In the Boweryn were widely su
at the time. In the early 'iOs the Zig
successes were Little Fraud, - ~ Feed
So Awful Jolly When the Band Begins
TO Play, champagne Charley" ~ ne