Lyr Req: Weeping Sad and Lonely

Subject: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Carole
Date: 22 May 99 - 10:51 PM

Looking for words to "Weeping Sad and Lonely." Heard the beautiful tune on Ken Burns' "The Civil War" original soundtrack recording. Notes say it is by Charles Carroll Sawyer and Henry Tucker. When I call it up on Mudcat Cafe I get the song "When This Cruel War Is Over" which is also by Sawyer and does have the words "weeping sad and lonely" in the Chorus. However, it is in 4/4 time and the tune is not the same as the one on the soundtrack. That one is in 3/4 time.

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Banjer
Date: 23 May 99 - 04:43 AM

Carole my book of Civil War music, "Singing Soldiers, A History Of The Civil War In Song" lists "Weeping, Sad And Lonely" or "When This Cruel War Is Over" as the same song. The notes on it say '"It is reported that the sale of this song approached a million copies, and that it was very popular with both the North and the South. So depressing were the sentiments of "Weeping, Sad And Lonely" that officers forbade its singing. The Southern soldiers substituted "grey" for "blue"'
I would not take a LOT of Burn's interpretations as gospel. He took more than a few liberties with various things on that PBS program.

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 24 May 99 - 02:31 AM

Banjer..just curious. What are some examples of liberties taken by Ken Burns in the series?

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Banjer
Date: 24 May 99 - 05:42 AM

LEJ, There were a few occasions where some of Matthew Bradys works were misrepresented as to location and time. The song "Ashoken Farewell" written in this century was used extensively, and while not purported by Burns to have been around during the era, it left a lot of folks thinking it had been. Ask some folks that are not CW history buffs what some of the more popular music of the era was and you will hear "Ashokan Farewell" from quite a few. I do not say Burns' production was not good, but as with many such shows context was a bit twisted to fit certain parameters, it appears.

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Felipa
Date: 24 May 99 - 05:44 AM

there's a musical show running in NYC called "The Civil War". Is that what you refer o, or as LEJ implies, a v (documentary?) series? When I saw a notice about the musical, I was wondering if the album of the show would include worthwhile songs and whether the songs are newly composed or real civil war songs. More info please...

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Banjer
Date: 24 May 99 - 06:16 AM

Not at all familar with the NYC show therefore cannot comment on it, sorry.

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Carole
Date: 26 May 99 - 12:03 PM

I'm still trying to figure out where the "Weeping Sad and Lonely" of the Civil War Soundtrack came from.

But you may be interested to know about Ashokan Farewell at the website of the person who wrote it: jayandmolly.com.

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Artful Codger
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 09:38 PM

On the Burns soundtrack album, track 18 is not (as listed) "Weeping, Sad and Lonely" at all, but another rendition of "All Quiet Along the Potomac To-night"; see track 16. The full lyrics have been posted, but search without "to-night". Note that the album erroneously calls it "All Quiet on the Potomac". The album uses the music by John H. Hewitt (1863); properly, Goodwin's setting (as captured in the DigiTrad) should be titled "The Picket Guard".

You can find the sheet music at Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music.

As mentioned elsewhere, the original song/poem by Beers consisted of 11 quatrains, but settings usually pair them into five or six verses, sometimes omitting the seventh quatrain, which begins "The moon seems to shine."

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 07:37 PM

1.
Dearest one! do you remember,
When we first did meet?
When you told me how you loved me,
Kneeling at my feet?
Oh! how proud you stood before me
In your suit of grey,
When you vow'd to me and country,
Ne'er to go astray.
Chorus:
Weeping, sad and lonely,
Sighs and tears how vain,
When this cruel war is over,
Praying then to meet again. If amid the din of battle,
Nobly you should fall,
Far away from those who love you,
None to hear your call;
Who would whisper words of comfort?
Who would soothe your plain?
Ah! The many cruel fancies,
Ever in my brain!
Chorus:

2.
When the summer breeze is sighing,
Mournfully along,
Or when autumn leaves are falling,
Sadly breathes the song.
Oft in dreams I see thee lying,
Oh the battle plain,
Lonely, wounded, even dying,
Calling but in vain.
Chorus: But our country called you, loved one;
Angels guide your way;
While our "Southern boys" are fighting,
We can only pray.
When you strike for God and freedom,
Let all nations see
How you love our Southern Banner –
Emblem of the free.
Chorus:






Charles Sawyer and Henry Tucker.

Subject: RE: Weeping Sad and Lonely
From: Artful Codger
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 07:33 AM

The lyrics for "Weeping, Sad and Lonely" are already in the DigiTrad under the title "When This Cruel War Is Over". Sinsull's version appears to have gotten munged a bit. There should be four eight-line verses followed by the four-line chorus "Weeping, sad and lonely [...] Praying that we meet again." Sinsull's version also swaps verses 2 and 3. The verses in order should be:

1. Dearest love, do you remember...
2. When the summer breeze is sighing...
3. If, amid the din of battle...
4. But our country called you, darling...

Written in 1863. Words by Charles Carroll Sawyer, music by Henry Tucker.