As with many songs from the time of the American Civil War, this song had multiple versions for both the Union and Confederate sides. One Union version, written by
J. L. Geddes, in 1863, a
British-born colonel who immigrated to the U.S., was called "The Bonnie Flag With the Stripes and Stars". Singing of
Unionism and equality, it went: We're fighting for our
Union, We're fighting for our trust, We're fighting for that happy land Where sleeps our father dust. It cannot be dissevered, Though it cost us bloody wars, :We never can give up the land :Where floats the stripes and stars. Chorus: :Hurrah, Hurrah, :For equal rights hurrah, :Hurrah for the
good old flag :That bears the stripes and stars. We trusted you as brothers, Until you drew the sword, With impious hands
at Sumter You cut the silver cord. So now you hear the bugles, We come the sons of
Mars, :To rally round the brave old flag :That bears the stripes and stars. Chorus We do not want your
cotton, We do not want your
slaves, But rather than divide the land, We'll fill your Southern graves. With
Lincoln for our chieftain, We wear our country's stars, :And rally round the brave old flag :That bears the stripes and stars. Chorus We deem our cause most holy, We know we're in the right, And
twenty million freemen Stand ready for the fight. Our pride is
fair Columbia, No stain her beauty mars, :On her we'll raise the brave old flag :That bears the stripes and stars. Chorus And when
this war is over, We'll each resume our home, And treat you still as brothers, Where ever you may roam. We'll pledge the hand of friendship, And think no more of war, :But dwell in peace beneath the flag :That bears the stripes and stars. Chorus Another version by one Mrs. C. Sterett and published by S.T. Gordon of 538 Broadway Street in New York went: We are a band of
Patriots who each leave home and friend, Our noble
Constitution and our Banner to defend, Our
Capitol was threatened, and the cry rose near and far, To protect our Country's glorious Flag that glitters with many a star. Chorus :Hurrah, Hurrah, for the Union, boys Hurrah :Hurrah for our forefather's Flag, :that glitters with many a star. Much patience and forbearance, the North has always shown, Toward her Southern brethren, who had each way their own; But when we made our President—a man whom we desired, Their wrath was roused, they mounted guns, and on Fort Sumter fired. Chorus They forced the war upon us, for peaceful men are we, They steal our money, seize our forts, and then as cowards flee, False to their vows, and to the Flag, that once protected them, They sought the Union to dissolve, earth's noblest, brightest, gem. Chorus We're in the right, and will prevail, the Stars and Stripes must fly! The "Bonnie Blue Flag" will be hauled down and every traitor die, Freedom and Peace enjoyed by all, as ne'er was known before, Our spangled Banner wave on high, with stars just Thirty Four Chorus Additionally, the Song of the Irish Volunteers, an anthem of the famous
69th New York regiment of the
Irish Brigade, was sung to the same tune.My Name is Tim McDonald, I'm a native of the Isle I was born among old Erin's Bogs when I was but a child My Father
fought in '98 for liberty so dear; He fell upon old
Vinegar Hill, like an Irish Volunteer! Then raise the
Harp of Erin, boys, The flag we all revere! We'll fight and fall beneath its folds, Like Irish Volunteers! Then raise the Harp of Erin, boys, The flag we all revere! We'll fight and fall beneath its folds, Like Irish Volunteers! When I was driven from my home by an oppressor's hand I cut my sticks and greased my brogues and came o'er to this land I found a home and many friends, and some that I love dear; Be jabbers! I'll stick to them like bricks and an Irish Volunteer! Then fill your glasses up, my boys, and drink a hearty cheer! To the land of our adoption and the Irish Volunteers! Then fill your glasses up, my boys, and drink a hearty cheer! To the land of our adoption and the Irish Volunteers! Now when
the traitors in the south commenced a warlike raid I quickly then laid down my hod, to the devil went my spade! To a recruiting office then I went, that happened to be near And joined the good old 69th, like an Irish Volunteer! Then fill the ranks and march away! No traitors do we fear! We'll drive them all to blazes, says the Irish Volunteer! Then fill the ranks and march away! No traitors do we fear! We'll drive them all to blazes, says the Irish Volunteer! Now, when the
Prince of Wales came over here, and made a hullabaloo Oh, everybody turned out, you know, in gold and tinsel too; But then the good old 69th didn't like these lords or peers They wouldn't give a damn for kings, the Irish Volunteers! We Love the Land of Liberty, its laws we will revere! "But the devil take the nobility!" says the Irish volunteer! We Love the Land of Liberty, its laws we will revere! "But the devil take the nobility!" says the Irish volunteer! Now if the traitors in the south should ever cross our roads We'll drive them to the devil, as
Saint Patrick did the toads; We'll give them all short nooses that come just below the ears, Made strong and good of Irish hemp, by Irish volunteers! Then here's to brave
McClellan whom the army now reveres! He'll lead us on to victory, the Irish volunteers! Then here's to brave McClellan whom the army now reveres! He'll lead us on to victory, the Irish volunteers! Now fill your glasses up, my boys, a toast come drink with me May Erin's Harp and
the Starry Flag united ever be; May traitors quake, and rebels shake, and tremble in their fears, When next they meet the
Yankee boys and Irish volunteers! God bless the name of
Washington! that name this land reveres; Success to
Meagher and
Nugent, and their Irish volunteers! God bless the name of Washington! that name this land reveres; Success to Meagher and Nugent, and their Irish volunteers! ==In popular culture==