A soldier returns from war, 1863
words and music by Louis Lambert
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Werner Tomaschewski:
Lyrics
- When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah, hurrah
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah, hurrah
The men will cheer, the boys will shout
The ladies, they will all turn out
Chorus
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home
- The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah, hurrah
To welcome home our darling boy
Hurrah, hurrah
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way - Get ready for the Jubilee
Hurrah, hurrah
We’ll give the hero three times three
Hurrah, hurrah
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow - Let love and friendship on that day
Hurrah, hurrah
Their choicest treasures then display
Hurrah, hurrah
And let each one perform some part
To fill with joy the warriors heart
This is an American song that is similar to the British: Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye. In that lyric, the young man is either dead or badly maimed. That explains the minor key. Band leader Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore (pseudonym Louis Lambert) was originally from Ireland. In his hopeful Civil War version Johnny is fine. Many expected the war to end earlier than it did. The resulting rousing march emphasizes the thrill of welcoming home a soldier.
Sung here by Fred Feild: