Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)

Subject: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: GUEST,Lem
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 05:58 AM

Hello everyone,

I hope you'll forgive my English — I'm writing from Spain, where this kind of music is not very common, but I have been a genuine admirer of American Civil War songs and Southern folk ballads for many years. The depth, the emotion, and the history behind these songs is something truly special, and communities like this one are a treasure.

I am trying to identify a song that has a very personal meaning to me. Many years ago, I heard it at the home of a dear friend of mine who was deeply passionate about American history, particularly the Civil War era. He had a wonderful collection of recordings — the kind that sounded like authentic period pieces, male voice, hymn-like or ballad style, similar to Bobby Horton's Homespun Songs of the C.S.A. or the 2nd South Carolina String Band.

Sadly, my friend passed away some years later, and I never had the chance to ask him about that song again. Finding it would mean a great deal to me — it is one of my warmest memories of him.

The lyrics I remember go roughly like this (I may have some words slightly wrong, but the core is accurate):

I was born in southern Louisiana, fifteen miles from New Orleans.
I was raised to be a southern boy, God took me on his knees.
Till the war broke in '61, I knew I had to go.
And fight those Yankees till the end and defend my family's home.

The style was distinctly Civil War / Confederate — solemn, sincere, no irony. Male voice.

I have searched extensively online without success, which makes me think it may be a lesser-known track not well indexed anywhere.

Does this ring a bell for anyone?

I am deeply grateful for any lead, however small. Thank you so much for your time and for keeping this music alive.

Warm regards from Spain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Lighter
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 08:26 AM

This may not help you, but it might be of interest.

I've been collecting Civil War era music for more than ten years, and I've never come across anything like these lyrics. I've just checked Internet Archive and Google Books and found nothing.

It sounds like a modern song. The style sounds very glib to me, like a 1960s imitation.

The reason (and of course this is just an opinion) is that the design of the stanza seems contrived and cliched. First of all, the tone is so casually conversational, even intimate. "God took me on his knees" sounds nothing like a 19th century statement, partly because it's such a metaphorical stretch - typical of the 1960s and later. The traditional American God doesn't come into physical contact with people.

Starting off with "I was born in X" is a very obvious way for a modern lyricist to start out, especially when "X" itself suggests what the song will be about. Contrast the authentic, very well known opening, "I was born in East Virginia," which gives no hint of what's to come.

"Fifteen miles from New Orleans" sounds especially modern to me: too specific for a 19th century songwriter, who would probably ask "Who cares? The important thing is Louisiana." I think the phrase is atmospheric filler. Old songs often had that too, but the imagery tended to be conventional, something like "where the
cotton and the corn and taters grow."

"When the war broke out in '61" is another bit that would occur immediately to a modern writer. The year the war began would be too obvious for an 1860s lyric to mention, but it tells a modern audience something it will recognize.

"And fight those Yankees till the end." Again very conversational - and very obvious.

I'm not saying that *none* of these lines could occur in a genuine song of the Civil War period (well, maybe I am), but all of them crammed into one stanza is too much for me.

Maybe someone here can identify this song for you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 08:47 AM

I can't find it now but we have a recent thread to cite examples of all sorts of songs that start with "my name is X" - I'd think the next most common trope in songwriting is "I was born in X".

The New Orleans part brought to mind The Battle of New Orleans but that modern song tells of an earlier time (1814). It had me wondering if the song described in the OP was a sort of modern Xtian bowdlerization of the 1959 song, slowed way down for that particular hymn-like effect.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: cnd
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 09:20 AM

Like Lighter, I've researched Civil War music fairly extensively (especially modern interpretations of the war in popular music), and have to admit this isn't one I've come across.

The closest I've found is the 1981 single from David James, "The Original Cuckoo Bird Pineapple Truck" -- track B1 is called "Louisiana Rebel Man," but I haven't been able to find a recording to verify. It is British, but is described as "Singer songwriter in folk style and an accomplished finger style guitarist."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Lighter
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 10:22 AM

I don't believe that many traditional songs begin with either "I was born in or "My name is," although I think the latter is more common.

Maybe we should make a list.

"I was born in":
"East Virginia," "The Boston Burglar."

"My name is":
"The Flying Cloud," "The State of Arkansas," "Bull-Whacker's Song."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 11:13 AM

I didn't mean to confuse the discussion - I think most of the "my name is" songs have known writers or were fairly modern. It was the (in my mind) logical progression to the "I was born in" beginning that is probably also modern.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 11:16 AM

Lighter wrote: I don't believe that many traditional songs begin with either "I was born in or "My name is," although I think the latter is more common.

I agree that the former is uncommon, but the latter is not rare. Many is the gallows-confession that starts with "My name is," or at least has a chorus that starts with it, e.g., "My name is Charles Guiteau...." Some singers will sing the chorus before the song, so that line shows up at the beginning. Singer's choice, one might say. It appears there are a couple of dozen songs that start with those words. The ones I know best, other than "Charles Guiteau" and "The Flying Cloud," are "Sam Hall" and "Jamie Raeburn"/"Caledonia."

There's nothing in the Roud Folk Song Index that starts "I was born in south(ern) Louisiana," so unless those aren't quite the right words, I don't think the original song is traditional.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Lighter
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 12:38 PM

Of course you're right in your examples, Robert, but there are thousands of traditional songs.

Are there more than a handful with those incipits?

As for "Guiteau," I believe that "My name is Charles Guiteau" begins the refrain. The first line I'm familiar with is "Come all you Christian People, wherever you may be."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Helen
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 01:20 PM

GUEST,Lem,

Can you remember the names of some of the singers or bands on the other recordings your friend had? It might help us to know what he was interested in and the recording artists he preferred. Were they original American songs or possibly performed in American style by someone else?

I am also wondering if the lyrics were a translation into English from another language, because there could be other versions of the lyrics which are not exactly the same as the lyrics you recall and that makes a search difficult.

If you can remember some of the instruments used on the recording, whether it was a solo singer or a band with a few different instruments.

Any further information might be useful, including an estimation of how many years ago that you heard the recording. You said "many years ago" but was it 10, 20 or more? Can you tell us which decade it might have been, and also whether the recordings your friend had were recent or an older collection?

Also, in a post above by Stilly River Sage on 12 Apr 26 - 08:47 AM, she said, "..modern Xtian bowdlerization of the 1959 song" and it might help to know that "Xtian" is a way of saying "Christian" and "bowdlerization" is deliberately changing the lyrics of a song or other works, often to remove material which might upset or offend people, so the version of the song you heard may be different from the original.

It can often take a bit of research to find the answer to questions like yours, so please don't give up on us yet. We are still looking for the answers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 01:45 PM

We're slowing down if it is seven hours since the original post and we're still asking questions! (Wink, wink!) Sometimes answers come in within minutes, more commonly over a span of a few days, but sometimes a thread sits here for years and finally gets an answer, though that is kind of rare.

Thanks, Helen, for asking more clarifying questions. I was rattling off questions forgetting that English isn't the first language of the questioner. Idiomatic speech can confuse.

That said, we do have a translate link (see the blue text under each post - Post, Top, Printer Friendly, then Translate.) Even if what you end up dropping into the page here is in Spanish, we may be able to figure it out with that translate feature. (If Google can parse the tenses for the verbs.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Helen
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 02:29 PM

Thanks SRS. Can the translate link also translate the words "Xtian" and "bowdlerize"? Sorry!! :-D

I think that Guest, Lem's English is excellent so I don't think a translator function was used.

Another question to help identify the time period for the recordings that Guest, Lem's friend had: Were the recordings on old 78 RPM records, vinyl records, cassettes, video recordings, CD's, DVD's? If they were cassette or video recordings, were they copies his friend bought or were they recorded by him from the radio or TV?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: GUEST,Lem
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 02:50 PM

Hi all!

Thank you so much for your replies. This community is wonderful.

Sorry for not replying before; was out with my family.

Let me try to answer Helen's questions as best I can, because I think the details might help narrow things down.

About my friend and his collection:
He was Spanish, like me. His collection consisted mainly of vinyl records and CDs (and some tracks downloaded from the internet), some of which I believe were purchased, though I wouldn't rule out that some were copied. I heard the song on around 2001–2002. His music was always played through a hi-fi stereo system while we played wargames — everything went through the hi-fi stereo system , including the computer — so I honestly cannot tell whether what I heard was a vinyl record, a CD, or a downloaded track.

About the recording itself:
It was a solo male voice, or nearly so — I recall very simple acoustic instrumentation, nothing elaborate. The overall feel was solemn and sincere, not theatrical. I do not recall it sounding like a commercial country or pop production at all. I do remember it opened with a short instrumental introduction — a fiddle or violin along with a string instrument (I cannot recall whether it was an acoustic guitar, banjo, or something else).

About the language:
It was sung in English, for sure. If some words fail are wrong, that is obviously my fault — after all these years, I cannot be completely certain.

On Lighter's analysis:
I think you are probably right. When I asked an AI to search for the lyrics, it told me exactly the same thing: that the lyric structure sounded more like a 1950s–60s song composition than an original from the 1860s — likely a modern piece written in a period style rather than a genuine 19th-century song. That actually makes it harder to find, since it wouldn't appear in any historical index. It may be a track from a small independent release, perhaps by a Civil War reenactment group or a dedicated folk artist, that simply never made it into any database.

On the "Louisiana Rebel Man" lead from cnd:
That is genuinely interesting — thank you. I have not been able to find a recording either, but I will keep looking.

I realise I may be asking you to find a needle in a very large haystack, so I am grateful for every effort and reply. Even if we never find it, this conversation has already taught me a great deal.

Thank you all,
Lem

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Helen
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 03:33 PM

Thanks for the information, Lem. It should help. We love searching for musical answers here.

I have been thinking about Ken Burns and his 1990 TV documentary The Civil War. There was a The Civil War CD released with some of the music which was mostly performed by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, who plays violin/fiddle. The CD tracks are available on YouTube etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 03:45 PM

Lighter wrote: Of course you're right in your examples, Robert, but there are thousands of traditional songs.

Well, by that standard, every first line is rare. There are a lot more that start "My name is" than start, say, "In Scarlet town where I was born."

Are there more than a handful with those incipits?

Yes.

The obvious way to check this is of course to look at the Roud index, and the best method for this search is actually to use the Ballad Index software. Search for first lines which contain the phrase "My name is." In the current Folk Song Index, there are 2021 instances. Not all of these start with "My name is"; it sometimes occurs later in the line. But if we retain those that start with "For my name is" or "My name is" or "Now my name is" or "Oh my name is," we are left with, ahem, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six that have that opening.

Now that's instances, it's not individual songs. But if we sort by Roud Number, I find that ten of them have no Roud number and one has two. So that gives us 1855 instances starting with one of those sets of words.

These belong to 317 different Roud numbers: 35, 90, 94, 138, 215, 257, 263, 346, 360, 364, 369, 444, 446, 478, 526, 600, 642, 668, 676, 799, 847, 872, 890, 941, 953, 957, 975, 982, 983, 1028, 1080, 1166, 1173, 1286, 1312, 1453, 1491, 1586, 1627, 1695, 1802, 1863, 1900, 1902, 1909, 1919, 2041, 2201, 2255, 2271, 2395, 2396, 2489, 2502, 2506, 2570, 2794, 2806, 2902, 2992, 3005, 3035, 3037, 3203, 3276, 3375, 3377, 3428, 3485, 3495, 3532, 3550, 3552, 3562, 3592, 3799, 3828, 4098, 4099, 4249, 4522, 4529, 4607, 4728, 4798, 4910, 4961, 5073, 5085, 5118, 5211, 5227, 5284, 5494, 5497, 5499, 5500, 5653, 6281, 6336, 6505, 7010, 7149, 7718, 7724, 7951, 8026, 8140, 8587, 9047, 9082, 9082, 9082, 9111, 9131, 9191, 9457, 9506, 9532, 9573, 9580, 9690, 10117, 10162, 10177, 10366, 10467, 10970, 11073, 11344, 11381, 11762, 12481, 12685, 12894, 13294, 13681, 13818, 13857, 15423, 15746, 15764, 15815, 15888, 15952, 16701, 16726, 17223, 17484, 17640, 18232, 18583, 19014, 19350, 19376, 19439, 20093, 20460, 20712, 20874, 21113, 21119, 21125, 21426, 22072, 22283, 22304, 22590, 22599, 22600, 22662, 23307, 23470, 23516, 23617, 23650, 23894, 23973, 24313, 24315, 24325, 24649, 24895, 25133, 25171, 25205, 25273, 25427, 25803, 26305, 26479, 26654, 28872, 29058, 29111, 29342, 30068, 30112, 30117, 30600, 30694, 30715, 30912, 30986, 31237, 31384, 31470, 31556, 31678, 31876, 31883, 31925, 31945, 31995, 32103, 32251, 32397, 33008, 33015, 33071, 33077, 34003, 34004, 34106, 34196, 34199, 34324, 34531, 34540, 34658, 34920, 35003, 35010, 35187, 35249, 35250, 35268, 35269, 35270, 35271, 35272, 35273, 35274, 35275, 35276, 35357, 35498, 35545, 35864, 35880, 36185, 36315, 36521, 36734, 37099, 37158, 37190, 37357, 37421, 37430, 37492, 37625, 37626, 37673, 37790, 37917, 38274, 38291, 38477, 38594, 38633, 38645, 38681, 38887, 39062, 39089, 39200, 39329, 39333, 39467, 39534, 39573, 39601, 39666, 39755, 39768, 39775, 39837, 39850, 39939, 39986, 40261, 40336, 40372, 40382, 40394, 40470, 40652, 40748, 40938, 40950, 41120, 41264, 41400, 43145, 43200, 43288, 43436, 43439, 44873, 45537, 45600, 45739, 45784, 46496, 46594, 46765, 46806, 47577

Is that enough for you?

As for "Guiteau," I believe that "My name is Charles Guiteau" begins the refrain. The first line I'm familiar with is "Come all you Christian People, wherever you may be."

If you note what I said, I said that was the chorus, but that singers often start the song with the chorus. 37 of the instances in the search above are Roud 444, "Charles Guiteau."

If it matters, the Roud numbers which use one of those incipits most often are:
Roud #983: 100 times
Roud #1080: 94 times
Roud #600: 89 times
Roud #2794: 84 times
Roud #668: 82 times
Roud #1802: 76 times
Roud #257: 54 times
Roud #3276: 51 times
Roud #1627: 48 times
Roud #872: 43 times
Roud #5497: 39 times
Roud #444: 38 times
Roud #847: 36 times
Roud #1166: 34 times
Roud #2806: 34 times
Roud #369: 33 times
Roud #1286: 33 times
Roud #6281: 31 times
Roud #3005: 25 times
Roud #4522: 25 times
Roud #5211: 22 times
Roud #22662: 21 times
Roud #5494: 20 times

#983 is "Patrick Sheehan." #1080 is "Jim the Carter Lad." #600 is "Jamie Raeburn." #2794 is "Pat O'Donnell.: #668 is "Peter Emberley." The rest will be left as exercises for the reader, since I would consider my point proved.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Civil War CSA song (Born in SL)
From: Helen
Date: 12 Apr 26 - 03:49 PM

Very interesting, but the opening line we are looking for is "I was born in southern Louisiana, fifteen miles from New Orleans"