Marching Through Georgia

Marching Through Georgia

Original Text
Henry Clay Work, Marching Through Georgia: Song and Chorus, in Honor of Maj. Gen. SHERMAN'S FAMOUS MARCH "from Atlanta to the Sea" (Cleveland: S. Brainard's Sons, 1865), in Songs of Henry Clay Work, compiled by Bertram G. Work (New York: J. J. Little and Ives, ca. 1884). Facsimile in Henry Clay Work, Songs, Earlier American Music 19 (New York: Da Capo Press, 1974). Toronto Metro Public Reference Library. M780.82 E13 no. 19.
2Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along --
3Sing it as we used to sing it fifty thousand strong,
4While we were marching through Georgia.
5[Chorus] "Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the Jubile!
6Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!"
7So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,
8While we were marching through Georgia.
9[Solo] How the darkeys shouted when they heard the joyful sound!
10How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found!
11How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground,
12While we were marching through Georgia.
13[Chorus] "Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the Jubile!
14Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!"
15So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,
16While we were marching through Georgia.
17[Solo] Yes, and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears,
18When they saw the honor'd flag they had not seen for years;
19Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers,
20While we were marching through Georgia.
21[Chorus] "Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the Jubile!
22Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!"
23So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,
24While we were marching through Georgia.
26So the saucy rebels said, and 'twas a hand some boast,
27Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon with the host,
28While we were marching through Georgia.
29[Chorus] "Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the Jubile!
30Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!"
31So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,
32While we were marching through Georgia.
33[Solo] So we made a thoroughfare for Freedom and her train,
34Sixty miles in latitude -- three hundred to the main;
35Treason fled before us for resistance was in vain,
36While we were marching through Georgia.
37[Chorus] "Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the Jubile!
38Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!"
39So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,
40While we were marching through Georgia.

Notes

1] This song was dedicated to Work's cousin Mary Lizzie Work of New Washington, Indiana. Back to Line
25] The army of William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-91) marched from Atlanta to Savannah November 16-December 21, 1864. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1865
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1998.