A Civil War song, 1864.
Also called “The Prisoner’s Hope”.
words and music by George Frederick Root
This was a subject that was very near the hearts of the loyal people of the North. It was the fate of Northern prisoners of war in Confederate jails. Many of those died there. This melody was later used for another song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children”.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by W. Tomaschewski:
Lyrics
- In the prison cell I sit
Thinking Mother dear, of you
And our bright and happy home so far away
And the tears they fill my eyes
Spite of all that I can do
Tho’ I try to cheer my comrades and be gay
Chorus
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching
Cheer up comrades, they will come
And beneath the starry flag
We shall breathe the air again
Of the freeland in our own beloved home
- In the battle front we stood
When their fiercest charge they made
And they swept us off a hundred men or more
But before we reached their lines
They were beaten back dismayed
And we heard the cry of vict’ry o’er and o’er - So within the prison cell
We are waiting for the day
That shall come to open wide the iron door
And the hollow eye grows bright
And the poor heart almost gay
As we think of seeing home and friends once more
Sung here by Fred Feild: