Lyr Req: Knot of Blue and Gray (US Civil War Song)

Subject: Name of Civil War tune?
From: Bobbi Roberts
Date: 08 May 98 - 10:04 PM

I am looking for the name and words to a civil war tune I remember hearing when I was a child. It is about two boys, maby brothers, who grew up friends, fell in love,went to war and both were killed in battle. The part of the song I remember was . The verse in which they were killed ends with - maby- one girl mourned a coat of blue and the other a coat of grey. It was such a sas, sweet song and I would appreciate any information anyone has. I have searched for this song for a long time. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Name of Civil War tune?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 08 May 98 - 10:27 PM

It's in the database, use the search box in the upper right part of this screen, enter blue and gray, or something else from the song. Barry

Subject: RE: Name of Civil War tune?
From: Gene
Date: 08 May 98 - 11:19 PM

You can also find this song and many others at:

THE FLORIDA STAR

Subject: Lyr Add: KNOT OF BLUE AND GRAY
From:
Date: 08 May 98 - 11:25 PM

Maybe this is it. (From a great CD "Johnny Whistletrigger: Civil War Songs of the Western Border" by Cathy Barton & Dave Para. (If you don't know about them, visit their website at
http://www.mid-mo.net/dpara/

BTW re: the thread about the top five folk albums, this one would certainly be on my list.

KNOT OF BLUE AND GRAY

You ask me why upon my breast, unchanged from day to day
Laying side by side on this broad band I wear the blue and gray
I had two brothers long ago, two brothers light and gay
One war the suit of northern blue and one of southern gray

One heard the roll call of the south and linked his fate with Lee
The other bore the stars and stripes with Sherman to the sea
Each fought for what he thought was right and fell with sword in hand
One sleeps amid Virginia's hills and one in Georgia's sand

But the same sun shines on both their graves o'er valley and o'er hill
And in the darkest of the hour my brothers they lie still
And that is why upon my breast, unchanged from day to day
Laying side by side on this broad band I wear the blue and gray

Subject: RE: Name of Civil War tune?
From: Allan C.
Date: 11 May 98 - 09:02 AM

Sounds like one of my all-time favorites, "Two Brothers" which can be found on this site. It has the annotation (Civil War) after the title. I first heard this sung by Bud and Travis on a radio show in 1964. (I stumbled upon an old record album of theirs at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago - what a blast from the past!) I fell in love with it too. It has many of what are, in my view, the best elements of a folk song: simplicity, repetiton, tradgedy or joy, and a workable melody line. The only down side I can see with this song is its all-too-predictable ending. Many performers attempt to short-circuit this by simply stopping the song when they arrive at the last line of the part about the women at the railroad track "one wore blue and one wore black..." I think Bud and Travis, (being uptown folkies at best) end on a enigmatic 9th chord or somesuch.

Subject: RE: Name of Civil War tune?
From: jenny
Date: 11 May 98 - 12:59 PM

I used to play/sing "Two Brothers" many moons ago and it continues to be one of my favorites. Cannot recall where I found it ... possibly an old Baez or PPM album. Haven't heard the Bud & Travis version.

Subject: RE: Name of Civil War tune?
From: Jenny
Date: 11 May 98 - 01:13 PM

Well ... I just checked the DT and found it was recorded by Chad Mitchell. I swear I didn't pick it up from C/M. Now I'm going to be obsessed with trying to remember where I found it. I'll be 50 on July 20, therefore, I must be afflicted with "Oldtimer's" Disease.

Subject: RE: Name of Civil War tune?
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 11 May 98 - 01:20 PM

I believe that Joan Baez recorded it; I nearly certain that she performed it in a concert which I attended. I have also heard it as a major theme in a movie long ago. Sorry that I can't be more help.

Subject: RE: Name of Civil War tune?
From: Jenny
Date: 11 May 98 - 05:40 PM

Hey, Bill ... thanks. I was almost certain it was a Joan Baez thing. Now I'm thinking I'm going to have to find it on CD or tape.