Hello again, Irish Sergeant.

Henry Clay Work was a very good, prolific and very successful song writer of the 19th Century, In addition to Marching Through Georgia he also wrote, "My Grandfather's Clock", "Father Dear Father" (come home with me now)"Watchman, Strike the Bell" and many others.

Of interest to Bob Bolton and other "Ausie's" and "Kiwi's", He wrote the melody to "Clip Go The Shears" (Watchman Strike the Bell) There's an Englishman's adaptation of Watchman Strike the Bell" Simply called "Strike the Bell" which we windbag sailors still sing when we're sitting around singing songs. First verse and Chorus are:

DOWN ON THE "WELL-DECK" WORKIN' AT THE PUMPS
IS THE STARBOARD WATCH A-LONGIN' FOR THEIR BUNKS.
THEY LOOKS OFF TO WINDWARD AND SEES A GREAT SWELL,
AND THEY'RE WISHIN' THAT THE SECOND MATE WOULD STRIKE, STRIKE THE BELL.

(chorus) STRIKE THE BELL, SECOND MATE, LET US GO BELOW,
LOOK OFF TO WINDWARD YOU CAN SEE IT'S GOIN' TO BLOW.
LOOK AT THE GLASS, NOTICE THAT IT FELL.
WE WISH THAT YOU WOULD HURRY UP AND STRIKE, STRIKE THE BELL.

I'll continue this lyric in another thread entitled, "Strike the Bell" It is a dandy song, worth your attention.

Back to the Civil war.

Sarge: There's Marchin' through Georgia, Tramp Tramp Tramp, Tenting Tonight. When the Roses Bloom Again, My Poor Nellie Gray, which may have also been written by Henry W. Clay, (the melody is the one "Britts" sing "Maggie, Maggie May" to.)and, of course, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" which is an adaptation of "John Brown's Body", a true Folk Song (I think) On the other side there's "The Bonnie Blue Flag", the Confederacy's National Anthem. It contains the hateful line,".....Fighting for the property we gained through honest toil" ("property" - meaning, "human beings") "Lorena" and, of course, "Dixie"
When I was young and unmarried, I rented a room in the very house in which , The Batle Hymn of the Republic was written. (73 Washington St. in Newport Rhode Island, "The Sanford-Covell House)

I don't believe that "My Poor Nellie Gray" is contained in it's entirety in the Digitrade, so here's the whole song. I've never seen anything but the first verse in any song book.

I
There's a low , green valley by the old Kentucky shore
Where I once wiled many happy hours away,
Sitting and singing by the little cottage door,
Where once lived my darling Nellie Gray

II
When the moon had climbed the mountain, and, the stars were shining too,
I would take my darling Nellie Gray.
And we'd float down the river in my little , red canoe,
while sweetly, my banjo I would play.

(chorus)
Oh my poor Nellie Gray, they have taken her away.
I'll never see my darling anymore.
I'm sitting by the river, weeping all the day.
for she's gone from the old Kentucky shore.

III
I went, one day , to see her, "She's gone", the neighbors say.
"The White man came and bound her with his chain",
"And they've taken her to Georgia, to wear her life away",
"Toiling in the cotton and the cane".

IV
My canoe is underwater, my banjo is un-strung,
And, I'm tired of living anymore.
My eyes will be cast downwards, my song will be un-sung,
While I'm still on the old Kentucky shore.

(repeat chorus)

V
Now my eyes are getting blinded, I cannot see my way.
"Hark", there's somebody knocking at my door.
I can hear the Angels singing, and, I see my Nellie Gray.
Farewell then to the old Kentucky shore.

(final chorus)
Oh my darling Nellie Gray, up in Heaven where they say,
They'll never take you from me anymore.
I'm coming, coming, coming while the Angels clear the way,
Farewll, then, to the old Kentucky shore.

---

I wrote a WW II parody of "Marching Through Georgia" from a German soldier's point of view, marching through the Soviet Republic of Georgia. (pronounced, GRUZH, just like the word "Groove" with a "zh" at the end instead of a "ve".

Marching Through The Soviet Republic of Georgia
(World War II version) (words by Jody Gibson)

I
Call der good old Panzer, Hans
We're on der "Pusch" again,
All der vay to Moskow mit our "Aryan Supermen".
Dat is if der vedder (weather) our dear fuhrer can detain,
Vile ve is marchin' through "Gruzh"

(chorus)
So, smile, seig-heil, we're on anodder pusch.
Oh, Hell, Mach snell I'm freezin' off mine "Tusch"
Hans, for vonce, beware, mein herr, they're hiding in der bush,
Vile ve is marching through Gruzh.

II
I t'ink I felt a snowflake, und it's getting kind of cold,
and der vinter lasts all vinter in der Soviet, I'm told.
Hand me my entrenching tool, I think I'll dig a hole.
Instead of marching through Gruzh.

(repeat chorus)

III
Look at those Italians mid their singing und their vine,
Instead of singing opera, they should all be cryin'.
It's too late, CAPITULATE, here come der Russian Swine.
No more marching through Gruzh.

(repeat chorus)


I'll go see if "Marching Through Georgia" etc are in the Digitrade data base. If they aren't, Ill be right back.

Jody Gibson