Many soldiers in the Civil War sang songs to express their feelings or to clear their minds. Some songs were even sung when entering battles. The lyrics to these melodies expressed what was happening around the soldiers and what they were experiencing inside their own minds. Reading through these lyrics will provide information about the different feelings throughout the war. The same songs had different lyrics between the Union side and Confederate side. The difference in these sides brings out a lot of emotion in the songs. Diving deeper into the song lyrics brings out more information about the Civil War and its effect on other people. Also, the differing lyrics expresses diverse emotions between the Union and the Confederates. 

There was a rally song called "The Battle Cry of Freedom" that got the soldiers excited to go to battle. This song was started in the North where it became popular amongst the soldiers. The song includes the motivation behind going into battle. The chorus of the song is 

"The Union forever!  Hurrah, boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitor, up with the star;

While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!" (Battle Cry of Freedom).

The first line reminds them of who they are. The next line tells the reason behind why they are fighting. The third line is used to encourage the soldiers to keep fighting. The last word in the final line really brings it all together. "Freedom" is what the whole war is about, and that one word brings emotion to everyone. If just the chorus was taken from the song, it is apparent what the war was about during this time. It is clear that the Union was fighting for freedom, and that is what the Civil War was for. This song by the Union was changed into a Confederate song. The chorus of that song is

"Our Dixie forever!  She's never at a loss!

Down with the eagle and up with the cross!

We'll rally 'round the bonny flag, we'll rally once again,

Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!" (Battle Cry of Freedom).

These choruses are very different, but also the same. The first line, just like the other, tells who they are. The second line says what they want to achieve; this is the same as the Union translation as well. The third line is basically the exact same words with just a few differences. The final line brings out emotion from the soldiers, same as the other. It also includes the word "freedom" to bring out the central theme of the whole war. Though a lot of things are the same, a lot is different also. The Confederates show that they are much more religious by using "the cross" in their version of the song. They use many subtle changes to show that they are the South and not the North. These differences tell the listener about the differences in emotion between the Union and the Confederates. The Union is much more strong minded in the fighting aspect of the war. They say things like "we are springing to the call with a million freemen more" and "We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave" (Battle Cry of Freedom). These lines of the song express that the North is much more confident about their fighting ability. The South's version says things like "our gallant boys have marched to the rolling of the drums" and "they have laid down their lives on the bloody battle field" (Battle Cry of Freedom). Their song is more about the sad part of the war. They express that they are losing a lot of men and that they keep trying. It is apparent that the two sides had very different views on the fighting. The North was confident, while the South was losing a lot of men but still fighting back.

The two sides were very different, but they also had similarities. The song "Home! Sweet Home!" shows what everybody wanted, to go home. They not only wanted to go home, they wanted to win the fight for their home. Each side was fighting for the home that they thought was right. The most important and prominent lines in the song are "Home! Home! Sweet, sweet Home" and "There's no place like Home" ('Home, Sweet Home'). Both sides love their homes and the people that are there. All that they are fighting for is to continue to live the way that they are living. Each soldier misses their home and their family. That connects both sides because they are feeling the same on the inside. They are fighting for different reasons, but they also have similar feelings deep down. This song was quickly picked up by both sides because of the emotion it brought to them. It reminded them of home and their families. Everyone would put down what they were doing and join in on the singing of this song. The word "home" made everyone a little happier in a time of war and death. This one song is capable of connecting all of the soldiers in battle, and bringing out the same emotions within them.

There was also another song that both sides could connect to, "Just Before the Battle Mother." This song was something like a letter to someone's mother before going into a battle. Everyone could have connected to this song just because of the subject of it. The first verse is 

"Just before the battle, Mother, I am thinking most of youWhile upon the fields we're watching, With the enemy in view" (Just Before The Battle Mother).

The soldiers' diverse emotions come to be one when they hear this verse. Everybody is reminded of their mother and how much they miss their family. No matter what side the soldiers are on, they have the same feelings and sights that are in this song. They are all thinking of their mothers and or families. Also, both sides have the enemy in sight and are about to go and fight. Connecting the two sides shows that they are going through the same things during this time. The war is the main focus, but everyone is watching so many people die around them. The sad part of the Civil War is apparent in the last verse of the song, it says

"Farewell, Mother, you may neverPress me to your heart againBut, oh, you'll not forget me, MotherIf I'm numbered with the slain" (Just Before The Battle Mother).

The Civil War was one of the bloodiest wars ever. That information about the past is apparent at the end of this song. Everyone is saying farewell to their mothers because they could possibly die. This song was not changed by either side because this was happening around everybody. Not one person felt that they were safe. Though the soldiers are fighting for two different sides, they can have the same feelings when listening to a certain song. 

There are some songs that connect people, and some that explain the events that are happening. One Civil War song called "The First Gun is Fired" talks about the beginning of a battle. The second verse says

"The first gun is fired!Its echoes thrill the land,And the bounding hearts of the patriot throng,Now firmly take their stand;We will bow no more to the tyrant few,Who scorn our long forbearing,But with Columbia's stars and stripesWe'll quench their trait'rous daring" (The First Gun Is Fired).

This verse along with the song tells a story of the time period that they are in. It shows that there is always gunfire and fighting. It also foreshadows future fights because it says "the first gun is fired", symbolizing that it has just started. The song expresses that each side is trying to win the fight against the other one. This song alone can tell someone a lot about what was going on during this time period. Analyzing it can explain what the war was about and what it was like to be in it.

The songs of the Civil War explain what was happening, as well as the emotions that people were going through. The song "The Battle Cry of Freedom" has two different versions, a Union and Confederate version, which express the different emotions between the two sides. The Union version shows that they are confident, while the Confederates are focused on the death that is occurring around them. The song "Home! Sweet Home!" along with "Just Before the Battle Mother" help to bring out the same emotions between the soldiers on both sides. These songs connect them on an emotional level and make their differences seem small. Lastly, the song "The First Gun is Fired" shows all of the listeners a piece of what the battle field was like. It tells a lot about what the time period was like and what the soldiers experienced on a daily basis. Listening to these songs and other songs from the time period give a good representation of the events that people went through and the emotions that they brought out. The two sides were very different but they went through the same events. Some of the songs even brought out the same emotions. They were very different, but at the same time a lot alike.

