Educator's Guide: The Arts: Singing Soldiers: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Words and Music: Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore

This song has endured throughout the years. Both Confederate and Union Soldiers used it for parody. At New Orleans the Confederates sang it to the title "For Bales" and at Gettysburg, the Union soldiers sang about the "Boys of the Potomac," about McClellan, Pope, Burnside and Meade, The home folks sang with joy and hope about the day "When Johnny Comes Marching Home.'

Pat Gilmore was the band master of the Union Armies.

 

 

 

1. When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.

2. The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.

3. Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.

4. Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah, hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah, hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.

 

• Sheet Music 1 (.jpg)
• Sheet Music 2 (.jpg)