A side of Child we don't often see,
Jim Carroll

The lyricist for "Overtures from Richmond" was the great folklorist, Professor Francis James Child, best-known as the editor of the classic work in Anglo-Saxon ballad tradition, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Interestingly enough, the great "folk purist" borrowed a traditional air for his 'words and penned a topical song of his period in a manner not unlike topical balladeers a century later. Politically, Child was a radical, one of the outspoken advocates of a forthright "Abolitionist" policy in the early years of the war. As editor of a song pamphlet, War Songs for Freeman, Child attempted to develop national loyalty and support for Emancipation with more than a score of propaganda songs many of them parodies to traditional airs.
"Overtures from Richmond" was written by Child to the familiar tune of "Lilliburlero," believed to have been composed by Henry Purcell sometime around 1686. "Lilliburlero" is one of the most famous political songs in English song literature, written as a broad satire on the policies of James
The significance of the lyrics comes from the fear of many Unionists at the possibility of "peace overtures" from Richmond the Confederate capital, which would result in a "compromise" solution of the war leaving slavery intact. Child ardent abolitionist that he was, tried to show that no compromise was possible with the Confederate leaders.
This song, with more than 100 others, will appear in a forthcoming collection of Civil War songs put together by SING OUT editor, Irwin Silber, scheduled for summer or fall publication by Columbia University Press


OVERTURES FROM RICHMONG
"Well Uncle Sam," says Jefferson D.,
Lilliburlero, Old Uncle Sam.
"You'll have to join my Confederacy
Lilliburlero, Old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, that don't appear oh,
That don't appears2, says old Uncle Sam,
"Lero, lero, filibustero.
That don't appear", says old Uncle Sam

"Then you must pay me national debts,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam,
"No questions asked about my assets,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, that's very dear,
Oh, that's very dear," says old Uncle Sam

"Lero, lero, filibustero,
That's very dear," says old Uncle Sam.

"So, Uncle Sam, just lay down your arms,"
Lilliburlero old Uncle Sam,
"Then you shall hear my reas'nable terms,"
Lilliburlero old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, I'd like to hear
Oh, I'd like to hear," says old Uncle. Sam
"Lero, lero, filibustero
I'd like to hear," says old Uncle Sam.

"First you must own I've beat you in fight,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam,
"Then that I always have been in the right,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, rather severe
Oh, rather severe," says old Uncle Sam
"Lero, lero, filibustero,
Rather severe," says old Uncle Sam.

"Also some few IOU's and bets,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam
"Mine, and Bob Toombs', and' Sidell's and Rhett's,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, that leaves me zero,
That leaves me zero," says Uncle Sam
"Lero, lero, filibustero,
That leaves me zero," says Uncle Sam~

"And by the way, one little thing more,
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam,
"You're to refund the costs of the war,'
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, just what I fear,
Oh, just what I fear," says old Uncle Sam
"Lero, lero filibustero,
Just what I hear," says old Uncle Sam.

"Next, you must own our Cavalier blood!"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam,
"And that your Puritans sprang from the mud!"
Lilliburlero old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, that mud is clear
Oh, that mud is clear," says old Uncle Sam
"Lero, lero, filibustero,
That mud is clear," says old Uncle Sam.

"Slavery's, of course, the chief corner-stone,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam,
"Of our new ci-vi-li-za-tion!"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, that's quite sincere
Oh, that's quite sincere," says old Uncle Sam
"Lero, lero, filibustero,
That's quite sincere," says old Uncle Sam.

"You'll understand my recreant tool,"
Lilliburlero, old' Uncle Sam,
"You're to submit, and we are to rule,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, aren't you a hero!
Aren't you a hero," says Uncle Sam,
"Lero, lero, filibustero,
Aren't you a hero," says Uncle Sam.

"If to these terms you fully consent,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam,
I'll be perpetual King-President,"
Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam.
"Lero, lero, take your sombrero,
Off to your swamps," says old Uncle Sam
"Lero lero, filibustero,
Cut, double quick!" says old Uncle Sam.