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If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: John Terrell
Author: George Root
Label: Berliner Gramophone
Year: 1898
Written in 1862 to support the Union and Abolitionism. Introduced in Chicago by the Lombard Brothers and performed from coast to coast by the Hutchinson Family. So popular (at least half a million sheetmusic copies circulated among the military) a Confederate variation appeared in 1864 (with Dixie forever instead of The Union forever). That same year used as campaign song for the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, in 1880 for James Garfield's campaign. Louis Moreau Gottschalk thought it would make a perfect American national anthem and used the theme in his Le Cri de délivrance, op. 55 (1863), dedicated to Root.
Covers:
Joe Hill [same melody in There Is Power In A Union]
Victor Military Band [in Patriotic Medley March No.2]
Miriam Hopkins [in western Virginia City as Rally Round The Flag Boys]
Charles Ives [quote in They Are There!]
Weavers [as Rally Round The Flag]
Ry Cooder [idem on Boomer's Story and in '80 in film The Long Riders]
Billy Bragg [as There Is Power In A Union]
Alias Ron Kavana [in Thoughts Of Abilene]
Eric Taylor [as Rally Round The Flag]
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)