Lay Me Down and Save the Flag

I was driving down the highway this morning on the way to a small historical society and everything was so pretty. The sun was shining through the trees, and once I was out of the city, traffic was super light and it was just a really nice drive. It was similarly nice on the way home this evening. Somedays I want to just bottle up a drive, you know? And then when I have to drive in really awful weather, I could just pop the bottle and re-live the super nice drive instead.

But, as always, the little historical society was great and the people were awesome. We had trouble with some of the scanning equipment early on, but it worked itself out within the first hour and things went pretty smoothly after that. A fifth-grade boy named Joe wandered in and he was funny. He's off school still for Easter Break and his mom was working in the Quilt shop nearby. He decided to wander down to the historical society because a) He had been dragged to work with his mother and b) It was either come to the historical society or sit in the shop next to his little sister. So, he chose us to hang out with us instead. Good choice, Joe. He lamented to us how you have to go to church in Frankenstein (a small town in Missouri) every week because there are too few members and they all notice if you're not there. After that he found some books and brought them over by me and read out names of military people from the county. He'd spell out the ones he'd never heard of like, Tobias and Amil. He was a fun kid, but he left when we went to lunch. So, after lunch I was working on a Civil War songbook full of union camp songs, battle songs, etc. And I can't read music, it's hard for me to really "hear" in my mind what a song sounds like if I'm just looking at the music on a piece of paper. But I kept reading the lyrics and these songs are pretty powerful. Some are very much about specific events in the Civil War, but most are just war songs that could be for any war. Anyway, I mentioned about how it would be cool to hear these and lo and behold, one of the ladies who was working today decided she'd play one for me on the piano they had in the back room of the historic house. It was so cool. I was struck most by this one particular song and that's the one that I asked her to play. She did a really good job. It made me want to learn to play the piano, actually. Anyway, the song is called "Lay Me Down And Save the Flag" by George Root and written in 1864 to honor the final words of (a wounded) Colonel James Mulligan, of the Illinois Irish Brigade, to his men when he realized he was to be captured by Confederates. So many of the songs are really well written lyrically, but to hear it played was really something. I don't think anybody there had ever played any of the songs before. The lady who played the piano didn't know they had the songbook in their collection. I think they were interested in playing more of the songs, though. Maybe they'll have a little Civil War songs concert there sometime. I want to learn to play the piano now just to be able to play some of these things on my own instead of staring dumbly at sheet music and trying to just imagine the song in my mind. But I have to at least share the lyrics with you:

"Lay Me Down and Save the Flag" (1864)

Song & Chorus.

Words by "Paulina"

Music by George Frederick Root

1.

They arose, whose name was Legion,

As an overwhelming wave,

And the battle surged its billows

Round a chosen few and grave;

And they neared the sacred banner,

With their foul and flaunting rag,

When the dying hero shouted,

"Lay me down and save the Flag."

CHORUS

So he fell, the brave commander,

Like the oak from mountain crag;

But his last words still are ringing,

"Lay me down and save the Flag."

2.

To the Siroc of Secession,

They had bared the fearless brow --

They had heard that voice and heeded --

Could they hear and heed it now?

But his heart is in the battle --

Shall the hallowed ensign drag,

While a hand is left to rescue?

"Lay me down and save the Flag."

(CHORUS)

3.

Then they looked at one another

In the speechlessness of woe,

As each eye would ask a brother,

Shall we stay, or shall we go?

And again the sight was blasted

By the traitor's boastful rag,

And again the word fell sternly,

"Lay me down and save the Flag."

(CHORUS)

4.

Oh, belov-ed, ye who murmur

For the dear ones gone before,

For the manly son and brother,

That may greet you nevermore;

For the loving arm that shielded,

For the hope whose pinions lag,

Let the lips that quiver, falter,

"Lay me down and save the Flag."

(CHORUS) 

Slumber calmly, brave commander,

Where thou art no pinions lag,

Fame will hear thy words forever,

"Lay me down and save the Flag."