The Bonnie Blue Flag

This is a great song - patriotic, stirring and upbeat. It's also a history lesson, as it lists the States that seceded to the Union more-or-less in chronological order. (To see the actual order of secession click here.)

Band of Brothers

And Sisters, nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles etc. If anyone asks you at an event 'why do you support slavery?' give them this song as an answer. To most Southerners, this war was the second War of Independance and this feeling is reflected in this song. They felt that the North were trying to take their land and civil rights away, which is why they had no other choice but to fight to get them back.

As I said at the start, this is a great song. But be warned, it takes a lot of practice to memorise the words and get the States is their proper order - good luck!

The Bonnie Blue Flag
Words: Harry McCarthy (died 1874)
Tune: Trad. (The Irish Jaunting Car)
Date: post 1861

We are a band of brothers
And native to the soil,
Fighting for the property
We gained by honest toil;
And when our rights were threatened,
The cry rose near and far—
“Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!”

CHORUS:
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Southern rights hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.

As long as the Union
Was faithful to her trust,
Like friends and like brethren
Both kind were we and just;
But now, when Northern treachery
Attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.

CHORUS

First gallant South Carolina
Nobly made the stand,
Then came Alabama,
Who took her by the hand.
Next quickly Mississippi,
Georgia and Florida
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.

CHORUS

Ye men of valor, gather round
The banner of the right;
Texas and fair Louisiana
Join us in the fight.
Davis, our loved president,
And Stephens statesman are;
Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.

CHORUS

And here’s to old Virginia—
The Old Dominion State—
Who with the young Confederacy
At length has linked her fate;
Impelled by her example,
Now other states prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.

CHORUS

Then cheer, boys, cheer;
Raise the joyous shout,
For Arkansas and North Carolina
Now have both gone out;
And let another rousing cheer
For Tennessee be given,
The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag
Has grown to be eleven.

CHORUS

Then here’s to our Confederacy,
Strong we are and brave;
Like patriots of old we’ll fight
Our heritage to save.
And rather than submit to shame,
To die we would prefer;
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.

CHORUS