Just Before The Battle, Mother

From "The Union" by Columbia Masterworks

Just before the battle, mother,
I am thinking most of you,
While upon the field we're watching
With the enemy in view.
Comrades brave are 'round me lying,
Filled with thoughts of home and God
For well they know that on the morrow,
Some will sleep beneath the sod.

CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.

Hark! I hear the bugles sounding,
'Tis the signal for the fight,
Now, may God protect us, mother,
As He ever does the right.
Hear the "Battle-Cry of Freedom,"
How it swells upon the air,
Oh, yes, we'll rally 'round the standard,
Or we'll perish nobly there.

CHORUS:
Farewell, mother, you may never
Press me to your heart again,
But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,
If I'm numbered with the slain.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• civil
• war
• union
• confederacy
• cry
• freedom
• lincoln

[paulinus43ad]

@windcroftland what bloody talent,,,,,,could listen to his voice all day,,,,,,,,,,

[windcroftland]

The singer of this is, very likely, my grandfather's nephew, Paul Althouse, who was a nenowned tenor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in the 1920's and 30's. According to my grandfather, Paul would sing this song when he visited Reading and sang at my grandfather's house on West Douglas Street. I'm not sure of this, at all, but it's altogether possible. In any case, the singer was good enough to be Paul Althouse.

[VNNJHV]

WHAT COURAGE AND RESOLVE IT TOOK TO ABOLISH THE SLAVERY OF THEN

WHAT INSPIRATION WE CAN TAKE IN ABOLISHING THE SLAVERY OF NOW

[VNNJHV]

LET US RECOLLECT THE GREAT STUGGLE TO ABOLOSH SLAVERY AND ABOLISH SLAVERY ONCE AGAIN.

[paulinus43ad]

first listened to this by Marty Robbins,,,beautiful,,,is this the original,,, christ ,excuse the blashemny,,just beautiful

[ernstbecker1]

Some Civil War songs created great depresssion. Those that lost sons during the War were told not to listen to songs such as: The Vacant Chair, All Quiet On The Potomoc and "Jsu Before The Battle Mother". Sad indeed ..........

[skiprydell1]

Den, you should have been 1st sgt

[OsmosisDives]

im gonna get really drunk and convert this into a song for acoustic guitar.

[bluegreen1051]

i cant even sing the song with out cying

[mexica021]

Who is the singer? Does anybody know?