New Cover Song

[kimberlysteele]

Was My Brother in the Battle? is an American Civil War era song by Stephen Foster Case that was wildly popular in its day. I put my own spin on it by changing a few chords -- the result is a much darker, sadder rendition of a song. I made this version because I thought the original far too upbeat considering the theme of the grieving sibling of a soldier who most likely died bravely in a battle. Oddly enough, I left the lyrics exactly the same as the old ones. I am planning other sad renditions of this song and I encourage others to cover it. The day I released it is actually the 158th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, April 12, 2023. (End of the Civil War was April 12, 1865). I sung the lead vocal in a single, uncorrected take.

 

On Youtube, please copy and paste this link:
https://youtu.be/Qt0wnx4AV4c

Get this high quality download at Bandcamp for free! 

Tell me, tell me, weary soldier from the rude and stirring wars,
Was my brother in the battle where you gained those noble scars?
He was ever brave and valiant, and I know he never fled.
Was his name among the wounded or numbered with the dead?
Was my brother in the battle when the tide of war was high?
You would know him in a thousand by his dark and flashing eye.

Tell me. tell me, weary soldier, will he ever come gain,
Did he suffer amongst the wounded or die among the slain?

Was my brother in the battle when the noble Highland host
Were so wrongfully outnumbered on the Carolina coast?
Did he struggle for the Union 'mid the thunder and the rain,
Till he fell among the brave on a bleak Virginia plain?
Oh, I'm sure that he was dauntless and his courage ne'er would lag
While contending for the honor of our dear and cherished flag.

Tell me. tell me, weary soldier, will he ever come gain,
Did he suffer amongst the wounded or die among the slain?

Was my brother in the battle when the flag of Erin came
To the rescue of our banner and protection of our fame,
While the fleet from off the waters poured out terror and dismay
Till the bold and erring foe fell like leaves on Autumn day?
When the bugle called to battle and the cannon deeply roared,
Oh! I wish I could have seen him draw his sharp and glittering sword.

Tell me. tell me, weary soldier, will he ever come gain,
Did he suffer amongst the wounded or die among the slain?

Tell me, tell me, weary soldier from the rude and stirring wars,
Was my brother in the battle where you gained those noble scars?
He was ever brave and valiant, and I know he never fled.
He was named among the wounded or numbered with the dead?
Was my brother in the battle when the tide of war was high?
You would know him in a thousand by his dark and flashing eye.

Tell me. tell me, weary soldier, will he ever come gain,
Did he suffer amongst the wounded or die among the slain?

credits

 

Comments

[jdecandia]

Haunting. As I think the original should be.

[kimberlysteele]

Thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

Beautiful! Thank you for this. My great grandfather was a soldier during pretty much the entire war (Union). Re-enlisted at least three times. It really wasn’t that long ago, was it?

It amazes me he survived, though his lungs were so badly damaged the war department gave him a pension about two years before he died at the ripe old age of 52.

He was from your home state; ended up in Kansas providing for his family as a farmer.

Valerie

[kimberlysteele]

Fascinating! Thank you for this. I felt this song was timely considering how we are feeling the rumblings of Civil War-like divisions nowadays. I will definitely be releasing a shorter version that will likely have more complex orchestration/arrangement next year.

[transcriberb]

Lovely, thank you.

[kimberlysteele]

Thank you!

[methylethyl]

I love it!

[kimberlysteele]

Thank you so much!

[(Anonymous)]

Wow. This is great.

[kimberlysteele]

Thank you!

Beautiful Rendition

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for this. I had a great great great uncle from Mississippi who disappeared in the war. The family lore was nobody knew what happened to him. A few years ago, via the find a grave website, I found him. He was apparently wounded and captured and then expired from his wounds a few days after the battle. He was buried in a small church graveyard in Virginia. Although I obviously never knew him, it was cool that his family was finally able to find him. - Croatoan

Re: Beautiful Rendition

[kimberlysteele]

How fascinating! That poor guy. Though there are plenty of terrible sides to the internet, the ability to do things like find and honor an old, nearly-forgotten soldier is amazing and wonderful.