Lyr Req: Virginia's Bloody Soil

Subject: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: GUEST,Martin
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 02:40 PM

Could please someone provide me kindly with the lyrics to this beautiful Civil War song that appears on an LP by Tennessee Ernie Ford? The ancient LP I have come across is so scratched that I could never get the words... Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 02:59 PM

Nothing at all. I'm rather stunned.

Subject: Lyr Add: VIRGINIA'S BLOODY SOIL
From: Susan of DT
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 03:49 PM

(dick greenhaus here)
As collected from Yankee John Galusha by Frank & Anne Warner:

VIRGINIA'S BLOODY SOIL

Come all you loyal unionists, wherever you may be,
I hope you'll pay attention and listen unto me;
For well you know the blood and woe, the misery, the toil
It took to down secession on Virginia's bloody soil.

When our good old flag, the Stars and Stripes, from Sumter's walls was hurled,
And high o'erhead on the forwardest walls the Rebels their flag unfurled,
It aroused each loyal northern man and caused his blood to boil
For to see that flag—Secession's rag—float o'er Virginia's soil.

Then from the hills and mountain tops there came that wild alarm;
Rise up! ye gallant sons of North, our country calls to arms.
Come from the plains o'er hill and dale, ye hardy sons of toil,
For our flag is trampled in the dust on Virginia's bloody soil.

And thousands left their native homes, some never to return,
And many's the wife and family dear were left behind to mourn.
There was one who went among them who from danger would ne'er recoil;
Now his bones lie bleaching on the fields of Virginia's bloody soil.

When on the field of battle, he never was afraid.
When cannons loud would rattle, he stood there undismayed.
When bullets rained around him, he stood there with a smile,
Saying, "We'll conquer, boys, or leave our bones on Virginia's bloody soil."

In the great fight of the Wilderness, where many's the brave man fell,
He boldly led his comrades on through Rebel shot and shell;
The wounded 'round they strewed the ground; the dead lay heaped in piled
The comrades weltered in their blood on Virginia's bloody soil.

The Rebels fought like fury, or tigers drove to bay.
They knew full well, if the truth they'd tell, they could not win the day.
It was hand to hand they fought 'em. The struggle was fierce and wild,
Till a bullet pierced our captain's brain, on Virginia's bloody soil.

But above that din of battle, what was that dreadful cry?
The woods are all afire, where our dead and wounded lie.
The sight to behold next morning would make the stoutest heart recoil,
To see the charred remains of thousands on Virginia's bloody soil.

And now our hero's sleeping with thousands of the brave.
No marble slab does mark the place that shows where he was laid.
He died to save our Union; he's free of care and toil.
Thank God! The Stars and Stripes still wave above Virginia's soil!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 03:52 PM

An album of Tennessee Ernie Ford singing this and other Civil Way songs was released in 1991, Capitol-EMI, stereo.
This album is hard to get.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: Amos
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 04:25 PM

I learned this from Warner's Folkways recording and he does it proud. The couplet :

"For well you know the blood and woe, the misery, the toil,
That it took to down secession on Virginia's bloody soil. "

has stayed with me all my life as an especially telling phrase.


A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 04:35 PM

The song posted by Dick Greenhaus is printed in "The Folk Songs of North America," Alan Lomax, p. 99, with music. In the Traditional Folk Index (cufresno), John Galusha is quoted as telling the Warners' that the song was written by a James McCoy. He said it concerned Capt. Dennis Barnes, killed in the Battle of the Wilderness (possibly the May 1864 battle).

Seemingly, the song has not been collected from other sources.

Would anyone care to recommend another recording?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 04:57 PM

Thanks, Amos. I hadn't looked at the thread for a few minutes and you had telepathically answered my request.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: GUEST,Martin
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 05:20 PM

Big thanks to Susan of DT - really one hour after posting! Super!
And yes, the album is hard to find. Where I came across it? In a music antiquariat in Prague, Czech Rep:!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Virginia´s Bloody Soil
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 06:41 PM

Amazing. Thanks, Dick