US Civil War; New Song

Subject: US Civil War; New Song
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 08:21 AM

Mamma's Lily
Jed Marum c 2002

She was just her mama's lily
A pretty child, curious and bold
As I stood there with Michael O'Reilly
She might have been seven years old

She'd been placed high atop the piano
And arranged there with love and with care
By an African servant, her nanny
Cutting locks of the little girls hair
There were tear soaked locks of her hair

CHO:
There's a hard cold edge to the wind tonight
It's a bitter wind cuts to the bone
And cruel is the fate when its power and might
To both guilty and innocent are shown
To both guilty and innocent shown

Charlestown was easily taken
Federal Batteries had helped clear the way
When we went down to see, Michael O'Reilly and me
The rebel force had melted away

She'd been standing alone in the window
Watching soldiers retreat South and West
There was nothing to do, when the cannon ball flew
Through the window and on through her chest
Tore her arm and her heart from her breast
CHO

Now I know we must fight for the Union
What a terrible price must be paid
And to make this land free, Michael Reilly and me
Well we joined with the Irish Brigade

Now as I looked through my tears at this lily
Shattered before she could bloom
Still through death on her face
Shine her beauty and grace
Though she died from a terrible wound
No child should die from such a wound
CHO

Subject: RE: US Civil War; New Song
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 08:24 AM

I recently read, My Life in the Irish Brigade - the memoirs of Pvt Wm McCarter, and Irish immigrant living in PA at the outbreak of the CW. He joined a PA regiment that was absorbed by Meagher's Irish Brigade. He told this sad, true story that hit me like it happened to family, like it was yesterday; not 150 years ago. I couldn't let it go, so I wrote this song.

Subject: RE: US Civil War; New Song
From: kendall
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 08:54 AM

Good job Jed. I hope to hear you sing it one day. You probably know that the Irish Brigade suffered horrible casualties at Gettysburg,

Subject: RE: US Civil War; New Song
From: MMario
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 09:05 AM

Where else but here do we get BRAND NEW songs of a war 150 years gone?

Subject: RE: US Civil War; New Song
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 10:23 AM

Have you ever heard Ellen Stekert sing Honest Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade? It's a Civil War era song, and I believe it's in the Smithsonian Folkways Civil War collection.

Subject: RE: US Civil War; New Song
From: Big Mick
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 11:52 AM

What is the tune, Jed? I absolutely love this lyric, and its message.   It is timeless, and it reflects your great heart. It is not often that I find someone who has not experienced combat and its awful aftermath, who is as empathic as you are. But that is why we are great friends. I am anxious to hear this tune, as I am sure it will get the same beautiful voice that you give everything else.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: US Civil War; New Song
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 06:49 PM

thanks Mick. I look forward to singing it for you, one day soon.

Janice, I;ve heard Derek Warfield sing the song, and Dan Milner has a version of the story on his last CD too.

LOL, Mario. It's true, a new song about a 'fresh wound' 150 year old. But I think the message (McCarter's, the singer of the song and the author of the memoirs) is timeless.

Kendall - I've got a history of the Irish Brigade that I will start reading soon. I know a bit of their history already, and I read McCarter's memoirs - which, of course are limited to his experience and he was mustered out (serious wound) after Fredricksburg. I played the songtoday on Ed Miller's radio show in Austin (the show is called FOLKWAYS and it's been on for 30 years).

Thanks all for the comments. I now have 3 for the next CD (which may be all originals, for a change).