The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #108259   Message #2252013
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
02-Feb-08 - 08:30 PM
Thread Name: Songs of the American Civil War
Subject: RE: Songs of the American Civil War
In the list of Civil War Songs by Stephen Collins Foster given by Masato is "We Are Coming, Father Abraam."
There is some confusion about this famous song. It is understandable.

In 1862, several people wrote words or lyrics to that title, or attached their name to the words of an anon. poem in the New York Evening Post, including William Cullen Bryant.
The only sheet music set with the spelling 'Abraam' is the one by Foster (Getze used 'Abra'am.')
The words were set to music by Steven Collins Foster and published in 1862 by S. T. Gordon NY.
Gibbons is not credited in the Gordon printing. The poem had appeared in the NY Evening Post without attribution. It may have been a few months before his identity became known.
See post by Masato in thread 46204: We Are Coming

Several others wrote music to the lyrics by Gibbons and others, also in 1862. Various of these are in American Memory, but the music by Foster is the memorable composition.