"When This Cruel War Is Over", also known under the title "Weeping, Sad and Lonely", is a song written by Charles Carroll Sawyer with music by Henry Tucker. Published in 1863, it was a popular war song during the American Civil War, sung by both Union and Confederate troops.
"Weeping, Sad and Lonely, or When This Cruel War Is Over"
"When This Cruel War Is Over" is in the key of G major and consists lyrically of four rhyming verses and a couplet refrain. Rhythmically, it conforms to the style of the sentimental ballads of the day, and its chorus was suited to arrangement for male a cappella groups.[1] Lyricist Charles Sawyer was also known for his popular song "Who Will Care for Mother Now", while composer Henry Tucker was perhaps best known as the melodist of the song "Sweet Genevieve".[2]
The song was published in several editions both in the North and the South, and was better known as "When This Cruel War Is Over" in the South and as "Weeping, Sad and Lonely", its opening line, in the North.[3] In Southern editions, the first verse's reference to a "suit of blue" was changed to "suit of gray" and the rhyme adjusted to fit the new word.[1] The song's fourth verse makes reference to the Union flag; this was also altered in Southern editions to refer to the Confederate flag instead.[3] During the war, it sold more than one million copies, and was one of the most popular tunes of its era.[4]
Historian Willard Heaps called the ballad "by far the most popular sweetheart 'separation' song in both the North and South."[1]Bruce Catton wrote of the song, "it expressed the deep inner feeling of the boys who had gone to war so blithely in an age when no one would speak the truth about the reality of war: war is tragedy, it is better to live than to die, young men who go down to dusty death in battle have been horribly tricked."[4] At one point, the Army of the Potomac was forbidden from performing the song on grounds that it fomented desertion, but soldiers mostly ignored the order, and it was quickly withdrawn.[4] Contemporaneous sources mostly championed the tune, with the Cleveland Leader calling it "the greatest musical success ever known in this country ... [its] melody catches the popular ear and the words touch the popular heart."[2]
The tune's popularity led Confederate songwriter John Hill Hewitt to write an answer song, titled "When Upon the Field of Glory".[3] A lyric sung to the same melody, called "When This Cruel Draft Is Over", lamented the plight of potential draftees,[5] and later in the war, lyrics to this tune praising George McClellan, and championing him as a presidential candidate to succeed Abraham Lincoln, were written under the title "Shouting 'Mac' and Freedom".[6] The tune also inspired one Sergeant Johnson of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry to write lyrics to the tune as a prisoner of war, entitled "Down in Charleston Jail".[7] Other answer songs or parodies included "Yes, I Would the War Were Over" (by Sep Winner), "I Remember the Hour When Sadly We Parted", "When This War Is Over, I Will Come Back To Thee", "The War Is Nearly Over", "Yes, Darling, Sadly I Remember", and "When the Lonely Watch I'm Keeping".[2]
Lyricsedit
(1st Verse) Dearest love, do you remember, When we last did meet, How you told me that you loved me, Kneeling at my feet? Oh! how proud you stood before me In your suit of blue, When you vow'd to me and country Ever to be true.
(Chorus) Weeping, sad and lonely, Hopes and fears how vain! Yet praying, When the cruel war is over, Praying that we meet again!
When the summer breeze is sighing Mournfully along; Or when autumn leaves are falling, Sadly breathes the song. Oft in dreams I see thee lying On the battle plain, Lonely, wounded, even dying, Calling, but in vain.
(Chorus)
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 words of comfort, Who would soothe your pain? Ah! the many cruel fancies Ever in my brain.
(Chorus)
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 love the starry banner, Emblem of the free.
^ abcWillard A. and Porter W. Heaps, The Singing Sixties: The Spirit of Civil War Days Drawn from the Music of the Times. University of Oklahoma Press, 1960, pp. 224–226.
^ abcIrwin Silber, Songs of the Civil War. Columbia University Press, 1960, pp. 117–118.
^ abcFrank W. Hoogerwerf, "Confederate Sheet Music at the Robert W. Woodruff Library, Emory University". Notes of the Music Library Association 34 (1977), pp. 7–26, at pp. 10–11.
^ abcBruce Catton, Mr. Lincoln's Army. Doubleday, 1962, pp. 171–172.
^""Weeping, Sad and Lonely or When This Cruel War is Over" Historic Sheet Music Collection
Sheet Musicedit
IMSLP
December 15, 2023
when, this, cruel, over, also, known, under, title, weeping, lonely, song, written, charles, carroll, sawyer, with, music, henry, tucker, published, 1863, popular, song, during, american, civil, sung, both, union, confederate, troops, weeping, lonely, songpubl. When This Cruel War Is Over also known under the title Weeping Sad and Lonely is a song written by Charles Carroll Sawyer with music by Henry Tucker Published in 1863 it was a popular war song during the American Civil War sung by both Union and Confederate troops Weeping Sad and Lonely or When This Cruel War Is Over SongPublished1863Composer s Henry TuckerLyricist s Charles Carroll Sawyer When This Cruel War Is Over is in the key of G major and consists lyrically of four rhyming verses and a couplet refrain Rhythmically it conforms to the style of the sentimental ballads of the day and its chorus was suited to arrangement for male a cappella groups 1 Lyricist Charles Sawyer was also known for his popular song Who Will Care for Mother Now while composer Henry Tucker was perhaps best known as the melodist of the song Sweet Genevieve 2 The song was published in several editions both in the North and the South and was better known as When This Cruel War Is Over in the South and as Weeping Sad and Lonely its opening line in the North 3 In Southern editions the first verse s reference to a suit of blue was changed to suit of gray and the rhyme adjusted to fit the new word 1 The song s fourth verse makes reference to the Union flag this was also altered in Southern editions to refer to the Confederate flag instead 3 During the war it sold more than one million copies and was one of the most popular tunes of its era 4 Historian Willard Heaps called the ballad by far the most popular sweetheart separation song in both the North and South 1 Bruce Catton wrote of the song it expressed the deep inner feeling of the boys who had gone to war so blithely in an age when no one would speak the truth about the reality of war war is tragedy it is better to live than to die young men who go down to dusty death in battle have been horribly tricked 4 At one point the Army of the Potomac was forbidden from performing the song on grounds that it fomented desertion but soldiers mostly ignored the order and it was quickly withdrawn 4 Contemporaneous sources mostly championed the tune with the Cleveland Leader calling it the greatest musical success ever known in this country its melody catches the popular ear and the words touch the popular heart 2 The tune s popularity led Confederate songwriter John Hill Hewitt to write an answer song titled When Upon the Field of Glory 3 A lyric sung to the same melody called When This Cruel Draft Is Over lamented the plight of potential draftees 5 and later in the war lyrics to this tune praising George McClellan and championing him as a presidential candidate to succeed Abraham Lincoln were written under the title Shouting Mac and Freedom 6 The tune also inspired one Sergeant Johnson of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry to write lyrics to the tune as a prisoner of war entitled Down in Charleston Jail 7 Other answer songs or parodies included Yes I Would the War Were Over by Sep Winner I Remember the Hour When Sadly We Parted When This War Is Over I Will Come Back To Thee The War Is Nearly Over Yes Darling Sadly I Remember and When the Lonely Watch I m Keeping 2 Lyrics edit 1st Verse Dearest love do you remember When we last did meet How you told me that you loved me Kneeling at my feet Oh how proud you stood before me In your suit of blue When you vow d to me and country Ever to be true Chorus Weeping sad and lonely Hopes and fears how vain Yet praying When the cruel war is over Praying that we meet again When the summer breeze is sighing Mournfully along Or when autumn leaves are falling Sadly breathes the song Oft in dreams I see thee lying On the battle plain Lonely wounded even dying Calling but in vain Chorus 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 words of comfort Who would soothe your pain Ah the many cruel fancies Ever in my brain Chorus 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 love the starry banner Emblem of the free Chorus 8 References edit a b c Willard A and Porter W Heaps The Singing Sixties The Spirit of Civil War Days Drawn from the Music of the Times University of Oklahoma Press 1960 pp 224 226 a b c Irwin Silber Songs of the Civil War Columbia University Press 1960 pp 117 118 a b c Frank W Hoogerwerf Confederate Sheet Music at the Robert W Woodruff Library Emory University Notes of the Music Library Association 34 1977 pp 7 26 at pp 10 11 a b c Bruce Catton Mr Lincoln s Army Doubleday 1962 pp 171 172 Heaps p 104 Heaps p 338 Silber p 127 Weeping Sad and Lonely or When This Cruel War is Over Historic Sheet Music CollectionSheet Music editIMSLP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title When This Cruel War Is Over amp oldid 1154824874, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
