Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/0Gt38YT4AQDg4xRLFH5xuD?si=BNV8P5WQTlqoVoj8rlwA6A
Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/album/historical-songs-on-piano-the-american-civil-war/1810528848
Hello! This is a piano instrumental of “Just Before the Battle, Mother.” It’s one of my favorite American Civil War songs!
Discord: discord.com/invite/SGMHeZ7
Instagram: instagram.com/forterepublic
“Just Before the Battle, Mother” was an American Civil War era song that was popular in the Union Army. It was written by romantic American composer George Frederick Root (1820-1895), who also wrote famous songs such as “The Battle Cry of Freedom.” George Root was named after George Frideric Handel.
“Just Before the Battle, Mother” may have also been somewhat popular during the Great War. Outside of the United States, the song became popular among members of the Primrose League in England, and it was commonly performed in Canada on Victoria Day in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The image shown in the video is a painting titled “The Last Command,” by American artist Larry Selman.
Lyrics:
Just before the battle, mother,
I am thinking most of you,
While upon the field we're watching
With the enemy in view.
Comrades brave are 'round me lying,
Filled with thoughts of home and God
For well they know that on the morrow,
Some will sleep beneath the sod.
CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
Oh, I long to see you, mother,
And the loving ones at home,
But I'll never leave our banner,
Till in honor I can come.
Tell the traitors all around you
That their cruel words we know,
In every battle kill our soldiers
By the help they give the foe.
CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
Hark! I hear the bugles sounding,
'Tis the signal for the fight,
Now, may God protect us, mother,
As He ever does the right.
Hear the "Battle-Cry of Freedom,"
How it swells upon the air,
Oh, yes, we'll rally 'round the standard,
Or we'll perish nobly there.
CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
The music in this video was made using Logic Pro.
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/0Gt38YT4AQDg4xRLFH5xuD?si=BNV8P5WQTlqoVoj8rlwA6A
Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/album/historical-songs-on-piano-the-american-civil-war/1810528848
Hello! This is a piano instrumental of “Just Before the Battle, Mother.” It’s one of my favorite American Civil War songs!
Discord: discord.com/invite/SGMHeZ7
Instagram: instagram.com/forterepublic
“Just Before the Battle, Mother” was an American Civil War era song that was popular in the Union Army. It was written by romantic American composer George Frederick Root (1820-1895), who also wrote famous songs such as “The Battle Cry of Freedom.” George Root was named after George Frideric Handel.
“Just Before the Battle, Mother” may have also been somewhat popular during the Great War. Outside of the United States, the song became popular among members of the Primrose League in England, and it was commonly performed in Canada on Victoria Day in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The image shown in the video is a painting titled “The Last Command,” by American artist Larry Selman.
Lyrics:
Just before the battle, mother,
I am thinking most of you,
While upon the field we're watching
With the enemy in view.
Comrades brave are 'round me lying,
Filled with thoughts of home and God
For well they know that on the morrow,
Some will sleep beneath the sod.
CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
Oh, I long to see you, mother,
And the loving ones at home,
But I'll never leave our banner,
Till in honor I can come.
Tell the traitors all around you
That their cruel words we know,
In every battle kill our soldiers
By the help they give the foe.
CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
Hark! I hear the bugles sounding,
'Tis the signal for the fight,
Now, may God protect us, mother,
As He ever does the right.
Hear the "Battle-Cry of Freedom,"
How it swells upon the air,
Oh, yes, we'll rally 'round the standard,
Or we'll perish nobly there.
CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.
The music in this video was made using Logic Pro.
![Heil dir im Siegerkranz – Piano Instrumental [Deutsche Kaiserhymne 1871 - 1918]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zLEmZhhmTn4/mqdefault.jpg "Heil dir im Siegerkranz – Piano Instrumental [Deutsche Kaiserhymne 1871 - 1918]
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1sATMTiW1n00x5BWmX6nO6?si=losXjPR3Sdef8MqsSt2uIw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/historical-anthems-on-piano-germany/1705871485
Good day! This is a piano instrumental of Heil dir im Siegerkranz, which was the national anthem of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918, as well as the royal anthem of Prussia from 1795 to 1918. The hymn was sung to the tune of God Save the King, which made it less popular than the anthem that succeeded it (Deutschlandlied). During the Great War, German Composer Hugo Wilhelm Ludwig Kaun (1863-1932) composed an alternate tune for the anthem to remove its similarity with the British anthem. It is not clear that this version ever gained prominence.
The lyrics were written in 1790 by German Protestant pastor Heinrich Harries (1762-1802) in honor of King Christian VII of Denmark. Harries lyrics were adapted in 1793 by Balthasar Gerhard Schumacher (1755-1805) for use in Prussia. The line Heil, Kaiser, dir was originally Heil Christian, dir. Schumacher had replaced instances of Christian with König (king), for the king of Prussia. After the proclamation of the german empire, instances König were replaced by Kaiser (emperor).
The image in the background of the video is the third version of the painting titled The Proclamation of the German Empire, by Anton Alexander von Werner (1843-1915).
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SGMHeZ7
Lyrics and translation below:
Lyrics:
I.
Heil dir im Siegerkranz,
Herrscher des Vaterlands!
Heil, Kaiser, dir!
𝄆 Fühl in des Thrones Glanz
Die hohe Wonne ganz,
Liebling des Volks zu sein!
Heil Kaiser, dir! 𝄇
II.
Nicht Roß, nicht Reisige
Sichern die steile Höh’,
Wo Fürsten stehn:
𝄆 Liebe des Vaterlands,
Liebe des freien Manns
Gründen den Herrschers Thron
Wie Fels im Meer. 𝄇
III.
Heilige Flamme, glüh,
Glüh und erlösche nie
Fürs Vaterland!
𝄆 Wir alle stehen dann
Mutig für einen Mann,
Kämpfen und bluten gern
Für Thron und Reich! 𝄇
IV.
Handlung und Wissenschaft
Hebe mit Mut und Kraft
Ihr Haupt empor!
𝄆 Krieger und Heldenthat
Finde ihr Lorbeerblatt
Treu aufgehoben dort,
An deinem Thron! 𝄇
V.
Sei, Kaiser Wilhelm, hier
Lang deines Volkes Zier,
Der Menschheit Stolz!
𝄆 Fühl in des Thrones Glanz,
Die hohe Wonne ganz,
Liebling des Volks zu sein!
Heil, Kaiser, dir! 𝄇
English Translation:
I.
Hail to thee in the victors wreath,
Ruler of the Fatherland!
Hail to thee, emperor!
𝄆 Feel in the thrones splendor
The high majesty in full
To be the peoples beloved!
Hail to thee, emperor! 𝄇
II.
Neither steed nor mounted knight
Secure the towering height,
Where princes stand:
𝄆 Love of the Fatherland,
Love of the free man,
Secure the rulers throne
Like crags at sea. 𝄇
III.
Holy flame, glow,
Glow and expire not,
For the Fatherland!
𝄆 Then we shall all stand
Valiant for one man,
Fighting and bleeding gladly
For Empire and Throne! 𝄇
IV.
Commerce and science
Hoist with courage and strength
Their head aloft!
𝄆 Warriors and heroes deeds
Find their laurel leaves
Faithfully preserved
Upon thy throne! 𝄇
V.
Be, Emperor William, here,
Long thy peoples treasure,
Pride of mankind!
𝄆 Feel in the thrones splendor
The high majesty in full
To be the peoples beloved!
Hail to thee, emperor! 𝄇")
![The Southern Soldier Boy – Piano Instrumental [American Civil War Song]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zXWaJTMnNAo/mqdefault.jpg "The Southern Soldier Boy – Piano Instrumental [American Civil War Song]
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0Gt38YT4AQDg4xRLFH5xuD?si=BNV8P5WQTlqoVoj8rlwA6A
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/historical-songs-on-piano-the-american-civil-war/1810528848
Good day! This is a piano instrumental of “The Southern Soldier Boy,” which is an aria from George W. Alexander’s 1863 play “The Virginia Cavalier.” The song is written from the perspective of a woman whose husband has left to fight in the American Civil War.
*This video is not an endorsement of any political ideology and is not to be interpreted as such. It was created out of interest in historical music for educational purposes.*
George W. Alexander was best known as the commandant of the Confederate Castle Thunder prison, which housed civilian prisoners, Union spies, political prisoners, and POWs. He had a reputation for brutality, which prompted an investigation by the Confederate House of Representatives, though he was eventually cleared of charges.
The image featured int his video is a painting called “Capitol Farewell,” by Mort Künstler. The painting depicts a young couple bidding farewell in front of the North Carolina Capitol building during the American Civil War.
Lyrics:
Bob Roebuck is my sweethearts name,
Hes off to the wars and gone;
Hes fighting for his Nanny dear,
His sword is buckled on,
Hes fighting for his own true love;
His foes he does defy;
He is the darling of my heart,
My Southern soldier boy.
Oh, if in battle he were slain,
I know that I would die,
But I am sure hell come again
To cheer my weeping eye.
But should he fall in this our glorious cause,
He still would be my joy,
For many a sweetheart mourns the loss
Of her Southern soldier boy.
I hope for the best, and so do all
Whose hopes are in the field;
I know that we shall win the day
For Southrons never yield.
And when we think of those who are away,
We look above for joy,
And Im mighty glad that my Bobby is
A Southern soldier boy.
This music was made using Logic Pro.")
