2. “Battle Cry of Freedom” was written in 1862 by the
American Composer George Frederick Root ( 1825-
1895). It’s a patriotic song fighting for the cause of
the Union. Because of it’s popularity, composer H. L.
Schreiner and lyricist W. H. Barnes adapted it for the
Confederate States of America. The Union version of
this song was used as a campaign for the Lincoln-
Johnson ticket in the 1864 Presidential Election. It’s
estimated that almost 700,000 copies of this song
were put in circulation!
A Brief History
4. Lyrics by Septimus Winner and music by Richard
Milburn, “Listen to The Mockingbird” written in
1855, is an American folk song. It tells a tale of a singer
who’s dreaming of his long lost sweetheart who has
passed and is now buried. Although she died, there’s
a mockingbird who’s singing a song over her grave
that the couple once enjoyed. The popular melody
sold more than 20 million copies of sheet music!
A Brief History
6. “Song of the South’’ was written by Bob McDeill. It’s
basically talking about a poor family who’s going
through a depression financially and is relying on help
to get through everything. Eventually, the family
looses their farm because of the mother’s
sickness, and are forced to move to town!
A Brief History
8. The song “Rose of Alabamy” was written by Silas S.
Steele. It’s an example of the many pre-war minstrel
show songs often performed in black-face by white
entertainers in Northern cities. It’s become well-
known by other generations because of its
appearance in the film “The Outlaw Josey Wales.”
A Brief History
