To Give Thanks

Are you a fan of music from the 60's? You might like to sing along with the lyrics below, maybe gather some friends around the fireplace or at the kitchen table and give a rousing round of the old time tunes. It brings back memories for some, and it might become a memory for others, those who've never hear this kind of music, stuck as they might well be with iPods and such. All I am saying is Give People a Chance. Let them hear some tunes from long ago and see how they like singing rather than just sitting while some machine plays the same thing over and over. Gather your friends and the boys and sing. We're near to Thanksgiving. Have a Yankee shantie for dessert.

When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel great when Johnny comes marching home.

The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel great when Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel great when Johnny comes marching home.

Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah, hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah, hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel great when Johnny comes marching home.

'Louis Lambert' (Patrick Gilmore) c. 1863.

Does anyone have a piano in the livingroom anymore? Oh friend, haul out a tub and some spoons, find a fiddler and sing out loud. Weave tissue in a comb and make a joyous sound.

Oh, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!


(Chorus)
Freedom forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors, up with the stars;
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!


We are springing to the call of a million free men more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we'll fill our vacant ranks of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!


Chorus

We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And although they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!


Chorus

So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we'll hurl the fascist crew from the land we love best,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

George F. Root, "Battle Cry of Freedom." 1862.

We have much to be thankful for. We could stand shoulder to shoulder and let our voices soar to the Heavens in praise of our blessings. I hope to hear you from over the horizon. And I will give thanks.