Marching Through Georgia

As performed by the  5th Alabama Infantry Regiment Band

Music of the Old South, Volume 3

Website: http://www.5thalabamaband.org/

The composer also of “Kingdom Coming” (1862) and “Grandfather’s Clock” (1876), abolitionist Henry Clay Work (1832-1884) wrote “Marching Through Georgia” in 1865 in tribute to Sherman’s March to the Sea. A tremendous post-Civil War hit in the North, the song was almost universally detested in the South. Ironically, General Sherman also came to dislike the song, because it was always featured by bands at the many Federal veteran reunions he attended.

Ring the good ol' Bugle boys! We'll sing another song,

Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along,

Sing it as we used to sing it fifty thousand strong,*

While we were marching through Georgia.

Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the Jubilee.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free,

So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,

While we were marching through Georgia.

How the darkeys shouted when they heard the joyful sound,

How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found,

How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground,

While we were marching through Georgia.

Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the Jubilee.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free,

So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,

While we were marching through Georgia.

Yes and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears,

When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years;

Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers,

While we were marching through Georgia.

Like This “Marching Through Georgia” Page

Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the Jubilee.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free,

So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,

While we were marching through Georgia.

"Sherman's dashing Yankee boys will never reach the coast!"

So the saucy rebels said and 'twas a handsome boast

Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon with the Host

While we were marching through Georgia.

Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the Jubilee.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free,

So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,

While we were marching through Georgia.

So we made a thoroughfare for freedom and her train,

Sixty miles in latitude, three hundred to the main;

Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain

While we were marching through Georgia.

Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the Jubilee.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free,

So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,

While we were marching through Georgia.