Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
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Used courtesy of Benjamin Tubb of
The Music of the American Civil War (1861-1865)
Information
Lyrics
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! was a Northern song written by George F. Root (1820-1895). It was so popular the Confederacy created their own lyrics.

George Root's other tunes include The Vacant Chair, Battle Cry of Freedom and Just Before the Battle Mother.

In the prison cell I sit,
Thinking Mother dear of you,
And our bright and happy home so far away,
And the tears they fill my eyes
Spite of all that I can do
Though I try to cheer my comrades
and be gay.

Chorus:
Tramp! tramp! tramp!
The boys are marching
Cheer up comrades,
They will come.
And beneath the starry flag
We shall breathe the air again
Of the free land in our own beloved home.

In the battle front we stood
When their fiercest charge they made,
And they swept us off a hundred men or more;
But before we reached their lines
They were beaten back, dismayed,
And we heard the cry of vict'ry o'er and o'er.

So within the prison cell
We are waiting for the day
That shall come to open wide the iron door;
And the hollow eye grows bright
And the poor heart almost gay
As we think of seing home and friends once more.
Related Links
  • Other George F. Root songs at this site:

    		•
    From The Fireside Book of Favorite American Songs
    See Bibliography for full information.