“When This Cruel War is Over (Weeping Sad and Lonely)”

Description

The girl asks her soldier, "Dearest love, do you remember, when we last did meet, How you told me that you loved me...." She fears for him, but urges him to fight. She is "weeping sad and lonely... When this cruel war is over, pray that we meet again."

Supplemental text

When This Cruel War is Over (Weeping Sad and Lonely)
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

Weeping Sad and Lonely

From Irwin Silber, Soldier Songs and Home Front Ballads of the
Civil War, pp. 42-43.

1. 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 vowed to me and country
   Ever to be true.

Chorus:
Weeping sad and lonely,
Hopes and fears how vain!
When this cruel war is over,
Praying that we meet again.

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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)


I (RBW) learned this with a slightly different set of words.
Variants noted below.

1.4: Kneeling ] While kneeling
1.7: When you ] There you
Cho.4: Praying that ] Pray that
3.4: None to ] I think I've heard this as "Who would," though
     it's not the version I learned.
3.6: soothe ] ease
4.3: Whole line ] While you fight for me and country

          *** B ***

(Confederate version)

From [H. M. Wharton], War Songs and Poems of the Southern Confederacy,
pp. 377-378.

Dearest one, do you remember
  When we last did meet;
When you told me how you loved me,
  Kneeling at my feet?
Oh! how proud you stood before me
  In your suit of gray,
When you vowed to me and country
  Ne'er to go astray.

        CHORUS:
    Weeping sad and lonely,
      Sighs and tears how vain,
    When this cruel war is over,
      Pray 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, loved one --
      Angels guide your way;
    While our "Southern Boys" are fighting,
      We can only pray.
    When you strike for God and freedom,
      Let all nations see
    How you love our Southern banner --
      Emblem of the free. -- Chorus

Notes

This is widely believed to be the most popular of the war songs (at least among Union troops). After the war, however, its rather maudlin sentiments caused it to lose its place to songs such as "Tenting Tonight." (For details, as well as a sample stanza, see Bruce Catton, _Mr. Lincoln's Army_, p. 171). - RBW

References

1. Belden, p. 381, "When This Cruel War is Over" (1 text)
2. BrownIII 390, "When This Cruel War is Over" (1 text plus 1 excerpt, 1 fragment, and mention of 2 more; the one full text is the Southern adaption of the song)
3. Silber-CivWar, pp. 42-43, "Weeping Sad and Lonely" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Hill-CivWar, pp. 232-233, "When This Cruel War Is Over" (1 text)
5. Arnett, pp. 88-89, "When This Cruel War is Over" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Silber-FSWB, p. 276, "Weeping Sad And Lonely (When This Cruel War Is Over)" (1 text)
7. DT, WHENOVER*
8. ST SCW42 (Full)
9. Roud #3446
10. BI, SCW42