First recorded in 1937 by renowned preservationist John A. Lomax in his “Southern States'' collection, “Southern Soldier” became one of the songs most synonymous with the American Civil War. It’s stalwart and gritty true-to-life verses tell the story of a Confederate soldier and his struggles leaving hearth and home to “drive that mercenary horde beyond our southern border.” The song is thought to have been composed by Minta Morgan, as documented by Alan Lorax in his recording. Some verses in alternative versions point to the song originating in the Mexican-American War.
By the time of the Civil War, it was a time-honored tradition for minstrel show tunes, or otherwise popular songs, to be repurposed to match the current times. “Jordan is a Hard Road To Travel” became “Richmond is a Hard Road to Travel.” “Old Dan Tucker” became the abolitionist “Clear the Track for emancipation!” In the time-honored tradition of growing and changing folk tunes, “The Nutmeggers” decided to alter only a few references during “Southern Soldier,” which makes it clear that the song is from a Confederate perspective to display the common experience of the soldier during the Civil War.
In “In High Water,” the song is sung from a northern perspective, and all historical lyrics are unchanged, with the exception that the perspective is shifted to that of a “Northern Soldier.” The core experiences and feelings of the common soldier are here revealed to be the same on both sides of the conflict, another reason, perhaps, that the tune continued to be useful throughout American military history.
In the Nutmeggers’ recordings featured on “In High Water: Songs of the Civil War,” we hope to do justice to those musicians who came before us, and especially those who gave their all, that we might see “a new birth of freedom.” We seek to honor the spirit and humanity of those brave souls who fought so that this nation might live. This is their music, and these are their stories.
Sources
“Abraham Lincoln.” Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, loc.gov/pictures/item/2008661453/.
Heidler, David Stephen, Jeanne T. Heidler, and David J. Coles. Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History. W.W. Norton & Co., 2002.
“Southern Soldier.” Ballad of America, Library of Congress, 2024, balladofamerica.org/southern-soldier/.
“The Battle Cry of Freedom.” Library of Congress, Performing Arts Encyclopedia, loc.gov/item/ihas.200197129/.
