The Southern Soldier

"The Southern Soldier", also known as "The Southern Soldier Boy", is a 19th century song about a Confederate soldier's perspective of the American Civil War and their experience in battle. It is a folk song as it has no definitive author and was passed down orally. The song's lyrics provided a true-to-life perception of the Civil War by describing the life of a Confederate soldier and their toils in fighting and parting from home. The song was widely in circulation among soldiers of the Confederacy as a rallying or marching song for its message and united cause of fighting against the Union. Despite being a pro-Confederate song, it remained popular throughout and after the Civil War for its down-to-Earth lyrics and display of humanity in the soldiers, and the song survived in minstrel shows or singing. ^[1]

In the present however, the song is mostly forgotten and lacks much documentation due to primarily surviving by oral singing. Nevertheless, it has had a cultural impact on the American South and the Confederate States of America, by asserting the civilian mindset during the war and being an empathetic song to the soldiers, among the mainly militaristic songs of the time period. The song is preserved by bands or Southern heritage groups such as The Sons of Confederate Veterans , or the 2nd South Carolina String Band, allowing the song to survive through camp meets. ^{[2] [3]}

While the title, "The Southern Soldier Boy", is used interchangeably, it does also refer to a separate song that is often confused with "The Southern Soldier" due to pertaining to many of the same relatable and civilian outlooks on life during the Civil War. ^[4]

Lyrics

The Southern Soldier

"The Southern Soldier" music book
Lyrics	Unknown
Music	Unknown, 1850
Audio sample
The Southern Soldier file help

I'll place my knapsack on my back
My rifle on my shoulder
I'll march away to the firing line
And kill that Yankee soldier
And kill that Yankee soldier
I'll march away to the firing line
And kill that Yankee soldier

I'll bid farewell to my wife and child
Farewell to my aged mother
And go and join in the bloody strife
Till this cruel war is over
Till this cruel war is over
I'll go and join in the bloody strife
Till this cruel war is over

If I am shot on the battlefield
And I should not recover
Oh, who will protect my wife and child
And care for my aged mother
And care for my aged mother
Oh, who will protect my wife and child
And care for my aged mother

And if our Southern cause is lost
And Southern rights denied us
We'll be ground beneath the tyrant's heel
For our demands of justice
For our demands of justice
We'll be ground beneath the tyrant's heel
For our demands of justice

Before the South shall bow her head
Before the tyrants harm us
I'll give my all to the Southern cause
And die in the Southern army
And die in the Southern army
I'll give my all to the Southern cause
And die in the Southern army

If I must die for my home and land
My spirit will not falter
Oh, here's my heart and here's my hand
Upon my country's altar
Upon my country's altar
Oh, here's my heart and here's my hand
Upon my country's altar

Then Heaven be with us in the strife
Be with the Southern soldier
We'll drive the mercenary horde
Beyond our Southern border
Beyond our Southern border
We'll drive the mercenary horde
Beyond our Southern border ^[1]

History

"The Southern Soldier" was written in 1861 by an unknown author. Throughout the Civil War, the song was mostly popular among Confederate soldiers and at minstrel shows. ^[5]

The song was first recorded by John A. Lomax, an American preservationist, in 1937. A variation of the song called "The Northern Soldier", is told from the view of a Union soldier. It retains many of the same lyrics only for the exception that the perspective is shifted to that of a Northern soldier. It revealed the many common feelings and experiences that soldiers of both sides had held, often why it is highly regarded as a relatable Civil War song. ^[6]

References

1. "Southern Soldier: About the Song". Ballad of America. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
2. "The Southern Soldier". Sons of Confederate Veterans Secession Camp No. 4. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
3. "The 2nd South Carolina String Band". American Battlefield Trust. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
4. Bitikofer, Sheritta (April 24, 2019). "Songs of the Civil War". Belle on the Battlefield. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
5. "The Southern Soldier". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
6. "Northern Soldier". American Battlefield Trust. Retrieved April 25, 2025.