The Bonnie Blue Flag

Wikipedia article

Lyrical variations

We are a band of brothers, and native to the soil,

Fighting for our liberty with treasure, blood, and toil;

And when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and far,

Hurrah! for the Bonnie Blue Flag, that bears a single star.

'I'

"Come, brothers, rally for the right!

The bravest of the brave

Sends forth his ringing battle-cray

Beside the Atlantic wave.

She leads the way in honor's path:

Come, brothers, near and far,

Come, rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag

That bears a single star!

Hurrah! hurrah! for Southern rights

Hurrah!

Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag

That bears a single star!

'II'

We've borne the Yankee trickery,

The Yankee gibe and sneer,

Till Northern insolence and pride

Know neither shame nor fear;

But ready now with shot and steel

Their brazen front to mar,

We holst aloft the Bonnie Blue Flag

That bears a single star.

'III'

Now Georgia marches to the front,

And close beside her come

Her sisters of the Mexique sea,

With pealing trump and drum;

Till answering back from hill and glen

The rallying cry afar,

A nation holsts the Bonnie Blue Flag

That bears a single star.

'IV'

By every stone in Charleston Bay,

By each beleaguered town,

We swear to rest not night nor day,

But hunt the tyrants down;

Till bathed in valor's holy blood

The gazing world afar

Shall greet with shouts the Bonnie Blue Flag

That bears a single star."

Complete lyrics

1.

We're a band of brothers, native of the soil

Fighting for our liberty, with treasure, blood, and toil.

When first our rights were threatened, and the cry rose near and far

:We raised up high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:

:Hurrah! Hurrah!

:For Southern rights, hurrah!

:Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

2.

As long as the Union was faithful to her trust

Like friends and like brethren, kind were we, and just

But now, when Northern treachery attempts our rights to mar

:We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

3.

First gallant South Carolina came nobly to the stand

Then came Alabama and took her by the hand

Quickly, followed Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida

:All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

4.

Ye men of valor gather round the banner of the right

Texas and fair Louisiana join us in the fight

Davis, for a President, and Stephens statesmen rare

:Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

5.

Now here's to brave Virginia, the Old Dominion State,

With the young Confederacy at last has sealed her fate,

And spurred by her example, now other states prepare

:To hoist high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

(Alternately:

Now here's to Virginia, the Old Dominion State,

Who with the young Confederacy at length has linked her fate.

Impelled by her example, let other states prepare

:To hoist high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.)

Chorus

6.

Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise a joyous shout

For North Carolina and Arkansas now have both gone out,

And let another rousing cheer for Tennessee be given,

:For the single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag has grown to be eleven.

Chorus

7.

Then here's to our Confederacy, strong we are and brave,

Like patriots of old we'll fight, our heritage to save;

And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer,

:So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

Historical inaccuracies

Union versions

We're fighting for our Union,

We're fighting for our trust,

We're fighting for that happy land

Where sleeps our father dust.

It cannot be dissevered,

Though it cost us bloody wars,

:We never can give up the land

:Where floats the stripes and stars.

Chorus:

:Hurrah, Hurrah,

:For equal rights hurrah,

:Hurrah for the good old flag

:That bears the stripes and stars.

We trusted you as brothers,

Until you drew the sword,

With impious hands at Sumter

You cut the silver cord.

So now you hear the bugles,

We come the sons of Mars,

:To rally round the brave old flag

:That bears the stripes and stars.

Chorus

We do not want your cotton,

We do not want your slaves,

But rather than divide the land,

We'll fill your Southern graves.

With Lincoln for our chieftain,

We wear our country's stars,

:And rally round the brave old flag

:That bears the stripes and stars.

Chorus

We deem our cause most holy,

We know we're in the right,

And twenty million freemen

Stand ready for the fight.

Our pride is fair Columbia,

No stain her beauty mars,

:On her we'll raise the brave old flag

:That bears the stripes and stars.

Chorus

And when this war is over,

We'll each resume our home,

And treat you still as brothers,

Where ever you may roam.

We'll pledge the hand of friendship,

And think no more of war,

:But dwell in peace beneath the flag

:That bears the stripes and stars.

Chorus

We are a band of Patriots who each leave home and friend,

Our noble Constitution and our Banner to defend,

Our Capitol was threatened, and the cry rose near and far,

To protect our Country's glorious Flag that glitters with many a star.

Chorus

:Hurrah, Hurrah, for the Union, boys Hurrah

:Hurrah for our forefather's Flag,

:that glitters with many a star.

Much patience and forbearance, the North has always shown,

Toward her Southern brethren, who had each way their own;

But when we made our Presidenta man whom we desired,

Their wrath was roused, they mounted guns, and on Fort Sumter fired.

They forced the war upon us, for peaceful men are we,

They steal our money, seize our forts, and then as cowards flee,

False to their vows, and to the Flag, that once protected them,

They sought the Union to dissolve, earth's noblest, brightest, gem.

We're in the right, and will prevail, the Stars and Stripes must fly!

The "Bonnie Blue Flag" will be hauled down and every traitor die,

Freedom and Peace enjoyed by all, as ne'er was known before,

Our spangled Banner wave on high, with stars just Thirty Four

In popular culture

References