(The Little Octoroon)
A Civil War song from 1866
Words and music by George F. Root
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Werner Tomaschewski:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
- Near the old Plantation
At the close of day
Stood the weary Mother and her child
Listening to the sounds
Along the valley’s way
While their hearts with hope were throbbing wild
Chorus
Glory! glory! How the Freedmen sang
Glory! glory! How the old woods rang
’Twas the loyal army, sweeping to the sea
Flinging out the banner of the Free
- Fly, my precious darling
To the Union camp
I will keep the hounds and hunters here
Go right through the forest
Through ’tis dark and damp
God will keep you, dear one, never fear - When the blazing campfires
Gleamed amid the wood
And the boys were halting for the night
In her wondrous beauty
Little Rosa stood
Trembling and alone, before their sight - Then the brave old gunner
Took her in his arms,
Thinking of his own dear ones at home.
And through all the marches,
And their rude alarms
Safely brought the little Octoroon
Sung here by Vancha March: