Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!

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"Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Prisoner's Hope)" was one of the most popular songs of the American Civil War. George F. Root wrote both the words and music and published it in 1864 to give hope to the Union prisoners of war.[1] The song is written from the prisoner's point of view. The chorus tells his fellow prisoners that hope is coming. A Confederate version and various other versions have been made.

"Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!"
Sheet music cover, 1864
Song
Written1864
Published1864
GenreWar song
Songwriter(s)George F. Root

Lyrics

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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.

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 free land in our own beloved home.[2]

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.

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 free land in our own beloved home.

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.

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 free land in our own beloved home.

Confederate lyrics

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In addition to the original version, soldiers of the Confederate States of America made their own lyrics to the tune. The Confederate lyrics revolve around General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia invading Pennsylvania, following which prisoners held in Northern prison camps shall be liberated.[3]

In my prison cell I sit,
thinking, Mother, dear, of you,
and my happy Southern home so far away;
and my eyes they fill with tears
'spite of all that I can do,
though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
The boys are marching;
cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the stars and bars
we shall breathe the air again
of free men in our own beloved home.

In the battle front we stood
when their fiercest charge they made,
and our soldiers by the thousands sank to die;
but before they reached our lines,
they were driven back dismayed,
and the "Rebel yell" went upward to the sky.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
The boys are marching;
cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the stars and bars
we shall breathe the air again
of free men in our own beloved home.

Now our great commander Lee
crosses broad Potomac's stream,
and his legions marching Northward take their way.
On Pennsylvania's roads
will their trusty muskets gleam,
and her iron hills shall echo to the fray.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
The boys are marching;
cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the stars and bars
we shall breathe the air again
of free men in our own beloved home.

In the cruel stockade-pen
dying slowly day by day,
for weary months we've waited all in vain;
but if God will speed the way
of our gallant boys in gray,
I shall see your face, dear Mother, yet again.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
The boys are marching;
cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the stars and bars
we shall breathe the air again
of free men in our own beloved home.

When I close my eyes in sleep,
all the dear ones 'round me come,
at night my little sister to me calls;
and mocking visions bring
all the warm delights of home,
while we freeze and starve in Northern prison walls.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
The boys are marching;
cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the stars and bars
we shall breathe the air again
of free men in our own beloved home.

So the weary days go by,
and we wonder as we sigh,
if with sight of home we'll never more be blessed.
Our hearts within us sink,
and we murmur, though we try
to leave it all with him who knowest best.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
The boys are marching;
cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath the stars and bars
we shall breathe the air again
of free men in our own beloved home.

Versions

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The song has been parodied and the melody has been repurposed numerous times:

Ohio Abolitionist Joshua McCarter Simpson rewrote the lyrics.

Religion
Politics
Sports
  • The melody of this song is used as the second stanza of the Georgetown University Fight Song, collectively known as "There Goes Old Georgetown."
  • Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, one of Chile's most important football clubs, has used the music of this song as the official fight song of the "Cruzados Caballeros" since 1943.[5] Also, it has been part of the corporate identity of Channel 13, which served as the startup music of the channel for much of the 1980s, the version used was that of Carlos Haiquel on vocals with mixed chorus, with the orchestral arrangement by Tito Ledermann.[6] The current version was recorded in 1970.
  • The melody of this song, as used in "God Save Ireland," makes up part of "Put 'Em Under Pressure," the official song written to support Ireland's national football team in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.[7]
  • The melody of this song, out of "God Save Ireland" was used as the tune for a novelty record fan-anthem, for the 1978 world cup released as the song Ally's Tartan Army.
Other

References

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  1. ^ Smith, Stories of Great National Songs, p. 127: "As the soldier was nerved for the shock of battle by the inspiration n the 'Battle Cry of Freedom,' so in his prison cell his heart was fired with hope by the cheering strains of—'Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching.' And how to the sound of that music the blod still thrills with the enthusiasm of '65. There is forcible suggestion of the solid march of Union armies in the words and music of that familiar song. It was composed by Dr. Root—both words and music—quite early in the war. Its purpose was to give a more hopeful view of the conditions of the country, and more particularly to cheer the boys who had been captured by the enemy and placed in prison pens."
  2. ^ Root, "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!".
  3. ^ Confederate lyrics to Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!''
  4. ^ "In Our Lovely Deseret". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. May 2, 2013.
  5. ^ "Himno". Club Deportivo Universidad Católica. February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012.
  6. ^ Sánchez, Pablo. "Columna de la UC: Vibrar vs. Luchar". El Gráfico. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  7. ^ Put 'em under pressure! (We're all part of Jackie's Army) - YouTube
  8. ^ "札幌農学校校歌 北海道大学恵迪寮寮歌集アプリ -収録曲一覧-" (in Japanese). 村橋究理基. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  9. ^ Crane, Brian (November 26, 2010). "Pickles". Washington Post Writers Group.

Bibliography

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  • Root, George R. "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" (Sheet music). Chicago: Root & Cady (1864).
  • Smith, Nicholas, Col. Stories of Great National Songs. Milwaukee, Wis.: The Yound Churchman Co. (1899).
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