Marching Through Georgia

Song written in 1865, commemorating General William Tecumseh Sherman's epic march the year before. Lively.

Verse 1

8     -8  7    -8  8 6    6     6     -6   -7 7 -8 7
Bring the good old bugle, boys, we'll sing another song

5    -5 6    6 -6 6   -6   7    -8    7   -8    8 -8
Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along

7    7  -8 8  -9   -6 -6   -6  67 7-8 8
Sing it as we used to sing it, 50,000 strong

-8    -8 -8   -8   -8  -8      7   7
While we were marching through Georgia.

Chorus

8  9    8  9    8  7     7   7 -6 7
Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the jubilee!

8  9    8  9    8   -8   -8   -8    -7  -8
Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!

7  7  -8   8   -9 -6  -6   -6 6 7  7  -8  8
So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea

-8    -8 -8   -8  -8   -8      7   7
While we were marching through Georgia.

Verse 2
How the darkeys shouted when they heard the joyful sound
How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found
How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground
While we were marching through Georgia.

Verse 3
Yes and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears,
When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years;
Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers,
While we were marching through Georgia.

Verse 4
"Sherman's dashing Yankee boys will never make the coast!"
So the saucy rebels said and 'twas a handsome boast
Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon with the Host
While we were marching through Georgia.

Verse 5
So we made a thoroughfare for freedom and her train,
Sixty miles of latitude, three hundred to the main;
Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain
While we were marching through Georgia.