Chords Req: The Bonny Blue Flag

Subject: bonny blue flag
From: Charcloth
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 04:17 PM

I need the chord progressions for "bonny blue flag" for a civil war group. I don't know the song well enough to figure them out myself or I wouldn't ask. I know you folks are great at helping out, so I thank you in advance. Charcloth

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE BONNY BLUE FLAG^^^
From: Giac
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 06:25 PM

This is how I learned it:

BONNY BLUE FLAG

We [E]are a band of [A]brothers, and [E]native to the [B7]soil,
[E]Fighting for our property we [A]gained by [B7]honest [E]toil;
And when our rights were [A]threaten'd, the [E]cry rose near and [B7]far,
Hur[E]rah for the Bonnie Blue Flag, that [A]bears a [B7]single [E]star!


Chorus

Hurrah! Hur[B7]rah! for [A]Southern Rights, Hur[E]rah!
Hur[C#m]rah! [G#m]for the [A]Bonnie Blue [C#7]Flag [F#m]that [E]bears a single [E]star!


As long as the union was faithful to her trust,
Like friend and bretheren, kind were we, and just;
But now when Northern treachery attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus

First, gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand;
Then came Alabama, who took her by the hand;
Next, quickly Mississippi, Georgia and Florida,
All rais'd on high the Bonnie Blue Flag, that bears a single star!

Chorus

Ye men of valor, gather 'round the Banner of the Right,
Texas and fair Louisiana, join us in the fight;
Davis, our loved President, and Stephens, Statesman rare,
Now rally 'round the Bonnie Blue Flag, that bears a single star!

Chorus

And here's to brave Virginia! the Old Dominion State
With the young Confederacy at length has link'd her fate;
Impell'd by her example, now other States prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag, that bears a single star!

Chorus

And here's to our Confederacy, strong we are and brave,
Like patriots of old, we'll fight our heritage to save;
And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer,
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus

Then cheer boys, cheer, and raise the joyous shout;
For Arkansas and North Carolina now have both gone out;
And let another rousing cheer for Tennessee be giv'n,
The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag has grown to be Eleven

Chorus
^^^

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: bonny blue flag
From: Charcloth
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 10:23 PM

Thank you

Subject: Stephens 'Bonny Blue Flag'??
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 04:46 AM

Anybody know who the Stephens was, who gets a very favourable mench in the American civil war song "The Bonny Blue Flag"?

Subject: RE: Stephens 'Bonny Blue Flag'??
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 05:03 AM

Hmmmm. I'll betcha it was Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America. I'm homeschooling a tenth grader this year, and we're covering American History and just finished the Civil War.
I combined two threads to help enlighten the discussion.
-Joe Offer-

---

Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Bonnie Blue Flag, The

DESCRIPTION: "We are a band of brothers, and native to the soil, Fighting for the property we gained by honest toil... Hurrah for the bonny blue flag that bears the single star." The states which joined the Confederacy are chronicled and praised
AUTHOR: Words: Harry McCarthy
EARLIEST DATE: 1861
KEYWORDS: Civilwar patriotic
FOUND IN: US(SE,So)
REFERENCES (10 citations):
Belden, pp. 357-359, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text)
Randolph 214, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text, 1 tune)
BrownIII 379, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text plus mention of 1 more probably from the same informant)
RJackson-19CPop, pp. 34-38, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text, 1 tune)
Scott-BoA, p. 220, "The Bonny Blue Flag (Southern)" (1 partial text, tune referenced)
Silber-CivWar, pp. 52-53, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hill-CivWar, p. 210, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text)
Krythe 8, pp. 133-141, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, pp. 349-350, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (1 text)
DT, BONBLUE*
ST R214 (Full)
Roud #4769
RECORDINGS:
Mary C. Mann, "Bonnie Blue Flag" (AFS A-488, 1926)
Old South Quartette, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (Cyl.: Edison Amberol 389, 2175, 1909)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Irish Jaunting Car" (tune& meter)
cf. "The Homespun Dress" (tune & meter)
cf. "The Northern Bonnie Blue Flag" (tune & meter)
cf. "The Southern Girl's Reply (True to the Gray)" (tune & meter)
cf. "Counties of Arkansas" (tune & meter)
SAME TUNE:
The Southern Girl's Reply (True to the Gray) (File: Wa156)
The Homespun Dress (File: R215)
The Northern Bonnie Blue Flag (File: SBoA218)
The Counties of Arkansas (File: R876)
Gathering Song (by Annie Chambers Ketchum) (War Songs and Poems of the Southern Confederacy, pp. 329-330)
Notes: This song, written by an immigrant Irishman very early in the Civil War (Belden has a note that Fitz-Grald credits the words to Annie Chambers Ketchum, with Harry McCarthy supplying the tune, but almost all sources credit the song to McCarthy), refers to the first Confederate flag, later succeeded by the "Stars and Bars."
The order the states are mentioned is roughly the order in which they left the Union. South Carolina was first, obviously, followed by the various states of the Deep South (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida; Louisiana and Texas took slightly longer because of their remote location). It was not until after the attack on Fort Sumter that the border states of Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and (last of all) North Carolina seceded.
Jefferson Davis was, of course, the first and only President of the Confederacy, and Alexander Stephens its Vice President.
Krythe's notes on this song contain several errors. The captain of the Alabama was not "Admiral Symmes" but Captain (later Admiral) Raphael Semmes, and General Wickham's first name was not William but Williams (with an s).
Harry McCarthy was only 27 when he wrote this song, but managed to avoid Confederate service as a British citizen. What's more, he fled to the North once the outlook for the Confederacy turned bad enough. He never wrote anything else of note, either. - RBW
File: R214

---

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2005 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: RE: Stephens 'Bonny Blue Flag'??
From: M.Ted
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 06:58 PM

The Bonnie Blue Flag was never an official flag of the Confederacy--it had been the flag of the shortlived Republic of West Florida, which broke away from Spain and declared it's independence in 1810--When it became clear that the Spanish weren't willing to fight over it, the United States claimed it, upon which the Governor, one Fulwer Skipworth, declared "I will lay down my life in Denfense of the Lone Star Flag"--He apparently changed his mind--and the Republic of West Florida became a part of the Louisiana Territory--

Subject: RE: Stephens 'Bonny Blue Flag'??
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 08:51 AM

Very interesting, thanks everybody. I heard this song, and thought this Stephens chap might be a relative. However, I have just followed Joe Offer's blue clicky and have read up a bit on the bloke's politics( Alexander Stephens, that is, not Joe). In the circumstances, I dont think I'll bother pursuing any ancestor connections!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BONNY BLUE FLAG (Lone Star Ballads)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 06:20 PM

Lyr. Add: THE BONNY BLUE FLAG
(Harry Macarthy; verse additions after 7 ?)

1
We are a band of brothers, and natives to the soil,
Fighting for the property we gain'd by honest toil,
And when our rights were threaten'd, the cry rose near and far,
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus:
Hurrah, hurrah! for Southern rights, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

2
As long as the Union was faithful to her trust,
Like friends and like brothers, we were kind and we were just,
But now when Northern treachery attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus:

3
First gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand;
Then came Alabama, who took her by the hand;
Next quickly Mississippi, Georgia and Florida,
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:

4
Ye men of valor, gather round the Banner of the Right!
Brave Texas and Louisiana join us in the fight;
Davis, our lov'd President, and Stephens, statesmen rare;
Now rally round our Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:

5
Now here's to Old Virginia, the Old Dominion State,
Who with the young Confereracy at length has link'd her fate;
Impell'd by her example, now other States prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:

6
Now cheer, boys, cheer! Arkansas and Tennessee
At length are both gone out, and swear they will be free;
Now let another rousing cheer for North Carolina given,
For the Bonnie Blue Flag with a single star has grown to be eleven!

Chorus:

7
The fight at Manassas was glorious and great,
And heroes whipp'd the Yankees from the Old Dominion State;
Then here's to Beauregard, the Champion of the South,
Who with unflinching spirit rushes to the cannon's mouth!

Chorus:

8
We turn our eyes far Northward , and lo! Missouri comes,
With roar of dread artillery and sound of sullen drums.
Thro' blood and fire, with martyr tread, she braves the god of war,
To rest beneath the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:

9
And Maryland looks Southward with a supplicating eye,
And listens with a breathless haste to catch the battle-cry,
When Beauregard shall tread her soil, all panoplied in war,
To raise aloft the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:

10
Poor Maryland! we think of thee- we'll heed thy suppliant calls,
As mournfully they float from out McHenry's dungeon walls;
One corner shall be kept for thee, throughout the war,
Upon the noble Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:

11
Then cheer again, boys, cheer for the "dark and bloody ground,"
Awaking from her lethargy has caught the inspiring sound;
Yes, noble old Kentucky shouts from her vales so green,
Make room upon the Bonnie Blue Flag- Kentucky makes thirteen!

Chorus:

12
The New Year's battle at Galveston was glorious and great,
Our heroes drove the Yankees from the loveliest spot in the State;
And here's to General Magruder, the Champion of Galveston,
Who with a couple of old cotton boats made the Yankees "skedaddle hum."

Chorus:
Hurrah, hurrah! for Southern Rights, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that waves o'er Galveston.

13
Now here's to our Confederacy, strong we are and brave,
Like patriots of old, we'll fight our heritage to save;
And rather than submit to shame, to die would prepare,
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that's filled with glorious stars.

Francis D. Allan, 1874, "Allan's Lone Star Ballads, A Collection of Southern Patriotic Songs Made During Confederate Times," pp. 40-42, Burt Franklin New York.

Verses 6-12 do not appear in sheet music issued in 1861 by Harry Macarthy, A. E. Blackmer & Bro., 1861, New Orleans.
The Galveston verse and chorus were added after 1862 (battle Nov. 1862).
Verse 13 is verse 6 in the 1861 printing, and verse 7, the last in 1861, is:

Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise the joyous shout,
For Arkansas and North Carolina now have both gone out;
And let another rousing cheer for Tennessee be given-
The Single Star of the Bonnie Blue Flag has grown to be Eleven.

A final chorus is added:

Hurrah! Hurrah! for Southern Rights; hurrah!
Hurrah! for the Bonnie Blue Flag has gain'd th' Eleventh Star!

All thirteen states seceeded in 1861; Kentucky the last on December 10, Missouri in August.
Manassas, also known as 1st Battle of Bull Run, was fought in July, 1861; the second in August 1862.

I do not know if the additional verses were composed by Macarthy or added by another writer.

Northern parodies or answers quickly appeared; see song sheets (no date, no author cited) at American Memory.

Southern Recollections, published in 1866, contains "Bonnie Blue Flag" and other songs about the war. John L. Peters, NY and L. Peters, St. Louis.
Included are variations by Pacher, Adams, Cardona, Schlessenger; a quickstep by Viereck and an improvisation by T von La Hache. Only the improvisation seems to be online.

The above all at American Memory.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: The Bonny Blue Flag
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 06:02 PM

Has anybody mentioned two other versions?

"The Southern Girl's Reply" and the Northern version of BBF.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: The Bonny Blue Flag
From: ollaimh
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 08:35 PM

not to be forgotten |he irish volunteers" to the same tune. as song of liberty rather than a song for the white supremists who founded the csa. and yes south carolina was over forty percent black, and mississippi, alabama georgia louisiaqnna and north carolins werte between twenty five percent and fortyh percent black.

only a white supremists voters list could have allowed the sham that they had any democratic right to the csa

Subject: RE: Chords Req: The Bonny Blue Flag
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Aug 13 - 12:13 AM

The Bonnie Blue Flag was raised over the Mississippi statehouse in January 1861. It is also a part of the Alabama CSA state flag. Add the Bonnie Blue's history with the Republic of Texas, it was a flag of multiple states of the South. The raising of the flag in MS is what inspired Macarthy.

Note that the "fighting for our property we gained by honest toil" is an alternate line. The preferred line - and historically accurate - references John Adams' famous line. (Slavery was NOT the issue it has become in explaining the War until 1863 on either side.) According to the original sheet music reproduced in The Flags of the Confederacy, following are the lyrics:

1
We are a band of brothers, and native to the soil,
Fighting for our Liberty, with treasure, blood and toil,
And when our rights were threaten'd, the cry rose near and far,
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag, that bears a Single Star!

Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for Southern Rights hurrah!
Hurrah! for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a Single Star.

2
As long as the Union was faithful to her trust,
Like friends and like brethren, kind were we and just;
But now when Northern treachery attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a Single Star.

Chorus:

3
First, gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand;
Then came Alabama, who took her by the hand;
Next quickly Mississippi, Georgia and Florida,
All rais'd on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a Single Star!

Chorus:

4
Ye men of valor, gather round the Banner of the Right!
Texas and fair Louisiana, join us in the fight;
Davis, our loved President, and Stephens, Stateman rare;    [sic]
Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a Single Star!

Chorus:

5
And here's to brave Virginia! the Old Dominion State
Who with the young Confereracy at length has linked her fate;
Impell'd by her example, now other States prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a Single Star!

Chorus:

6
Now cheer, boys, [cheer!] raise the joyous shout,
For Arkansas and North Carolina now have both gone out;
And let another rousing cheer for Tennessee be given,
The Single Star of the Bonnie Blue Flag has grown to be Eleven.

Chorus:

7
The here's to our Confederacy, strong we are and brave
Like patriots of old we'll fight, our heritage to save
And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a Single Star.

Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for Southern Rights, hurrah!
Hurrah! for the Bonnie Blue Flag has gain'd th' Eleventh Star!

Subject: RE: Chords Req: The Bonny Blue Flag
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 22 Aug 13 - 03:26 PM

The Bonnie Blue Flag from the movie Gods and Generals