The Cruel War is Raging

[1monster]

http://www.contemplator.com/midimusic/cruelwar.mid

The Cruel War

The cruel war is raging
Johnny has to fight
I want to be with him
From morning till night

Oh Johhny, dear Johnny,
Morning, noon and night,
I think of you marching,
Left, right, left and right



I know you're so gentle
When you hold me tight,
Oh how will they make you
Get out there and fight?



Go speak to your sergeant,
And say you want out,
Just say you're allergic
To this kind of bout.

Oh Johnny, dear Johnny,
Yes, I know you're brave,
But oh how I miss you,
It's your love I crave.

Oh why did the army
Take you from my side,
To go into battle,
Away from your bride.

The cruel war is raging
Johnny has to fight
I want to be with him
From morning till night



I'm counting the minutes
The hours and the days,
Oh Lord, stop the cruel war,
For this, my heart prays.



I made my decision,
I will join up too,
Oh Johnny, dear Johnny,
I'll soon be with you.



We women are fighters,
We can help you win,
Oh Johnny, I'm hoping,
That they'll take me in.

The cruel war is raging,
Johnny has to fight
I want to be with him
From morning to night.

I want to be with him,
It grieves my heart so,
Wont you let me go with you?
No, my love, no.

Tomorrow is Sunday,
Monday is the day
That your captain will call you
And you must obey.



Your captain will call you
It grieves my heart so,
Wont you let me go with you?
No, my love, no.

Ill tie back my hair,
Mens clothing Ill put on,
Ill pass as your comrade,
As we march along.



Ill pass as your comrade,
Mo one will ever know.
Wont you let me go with you?
No, my love, no.

Oh Johnny, oh Johnny,
I fear you are unkind
I love you far better
Than all of mankind.



I love you far better
Than words can ere express
Wont you let me go with you?
Yes, my love, yes.
Yes, my love, yes.

Alternate ending
They marched into battle, she never left his side
'Til a bullet shell struck her and love was denied
A bullet shell struck her, tears came to Johnny's eyes
As he knelt down beside her, she silently died.


another version

Oh the cruel war is raging
Your daddy must fight
And I know I will miss you
From morning till night
You cannot go with me
It grieves my heart so
You cannot go with me
Oh no my son no



For your waist is to slender
Your fingers to small
And your cheeks are to tender
To take the cannon-ball
They will give me shiny medals
They'll call "the killing brave"
But I'd rather hold my darling son
Then fill a thousand graves



I will fight through the winter
Through Summer, Spring and Fall
And there's many a man that I will kill
That I never known at all
O listen, oh listen to me Johnny
And heave my story well
There's no glory in the killing
Just the agony of hell





Oh the cruel war is raging
Your daddy must fight
And I know I will miss you
From morning till night

[bunyip]

1. Very powerful

:kick:

[1monster]

2. Thank you. I was doing some research on folk music I ran across

lyrics for The Cruel War that I'd never heard before.

I was surprised to learn that the song has been around since the Revolutionary War. It is usually protrayed as a Civil War song...

[bunyip]

3. My parents used to play it when I was little.

I just assumed it was written during the Vietnam War era.

Since the Revolutionary War, truly? Dissent has a long history! Thank you for your post. :toast:

[Catrina]

4. Thank you, I love that song but never heard those verses before ~

We sing it all time but only the more well-known verses ~ thanks for the information. Wow, the Revolutionaly War? I thought it might have been from WW11. Thanks for the lyrics. A veteran, who is a friend and an excellent musician always sings that song ~ or did, until his death this past March ~ he would have loved to have known this information.


'I'll tie back my hair, men's clothing I'll put on
I'll pass as your comrade As we march along
I'll pass as your comrade no one will ever know
Won't you let me go with you? No! My love - No!

Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, I fear you are unkind
I love you far better than all of mankind
I love you far better, mere words cannot express!
Won't you let me go with you? Yes! My love - Yes!'


I just read some history on women of the Revolutionary War and learned that there were many women who went to support their husbands and some who dressed as men in order to pass as soldiers. So now those verses makes sense ~ thank you! :-)

[1monster]

5. Thank you for posting. I thought this was going to die ignominously

faster than any I've ever posted before... :yoiks:

[thecrow]

6. Also throughout the Civil War.

[thecrow]

7. Also throughout the Civil War.

[1monster]

10. Molly Pitcher comes to mind

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/notable/pitcherm/

MOLLY PITCHER
(Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley)
Born October 13, 1754 -- Died January 22, 1832



During the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778 the fighting was fierce and intense. The heat of battle was searing, and the soldiers' throats were parched. Many were exhausted and wounded. All through the day-- amidst the smoke and fire of the fighting-- a private's young wife, Mrs. John Hays, carried water in a pitcher back and forth from a well to her husband and his fellow artillery gunners. Thus, the nickname Molly Pitcher.

As the battle ensued Molly's husband was wounded and could not continue, but she knew his job well enough to grab a rammer and keep the gun firing. She served at the cannon for the remainder of the battle.

For her heroic service she was ultimately granted relief by an Act of the Pennsylvania Legislature.

[Catrina]

11. Yes, she may have been one of the women mentioned in the history

I read ~

There was another, whose name I don't remember either, who actually dressed as a soldier fooling everyone until she was wounded and the doctor discovered that she was a woman ~ as I recall, he did not give away her secret and she was awarded a medal, I think.

I'll have to check on the medal part, as I'm not certain I am remembering correctly. But all of this does give that song a whole new meaning.

[KT2000]

8. Thanks for posting

Guess I had assumed it was from the Civil War but good to know the truth. We need a resurgence of our folk music. Maybe that is why Springsteen did the Seeger album?? The time is right.

[1monster]

9. I found still another version of Cruel War... Civil War version

Another Version

Dearest Love, do you remember
When last we did meet?
How you told me you loved me
Kneeling at my feet.

How proud you stood before me
In your suit of blue (grey)
When you vowed to me and country
Ever to be true (Nevermore to stray)?

Weeping, sad and lonely,
Hopes and fears, how vain!
When this cruel war is over
Praying then to meet again.

When the summer breeze is sighing
Mournfully along,
Or when autumn leaves are falling
Sadly breathes this song.

Oft in dream I see thee
Lying on the battle plain,
Lonely, wounded, even dying,
Calling out in vain.

Weeping, sad and lonely,
Hopes and fears, how vain!
When this cruel war is over
Praying then to meet again.

If amid the din of battle,
Nobly you should fall,
Far away from those who love you
None to hear you call.

Who would whisper word of comfort,
Who would soothe your pain?
Ah, the many cruel fancies, ever in my brain.

Weeping, sad and lonely,
Hopes and fears, how vain!
When this cruel war is over
Praying then to meet again.

But our Country called you,
Darling, Angels cheer your way;
While our nation's sons are fighting
We can only pray.

Nobly strike for God and Liberty,
Let all nations see
How we loved our starry banner,
Emblem of the free.

Weeping, sad and lonely,
Hopes and fears, how vain!
When this cruel war is over
Praying then to meet again.