Julia Ward Howe

The Young Volunteer

As performed by the Joyful Harps

Joyful Harps Yesteryear

Website: http://www.joyfulharps.com/

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Our flag is unfurl'd, and our arms flash bright,

As the sun wades up the sky;

But ere I join the doubtful fight,

Lovely maid, I would say "Good bye"

I'm a young volunteer, and my heart is true

To our flag that woos the wind,

Then three cheers for that flag, and our country too,

And the girls we leave behind.

Then adieu! then adieu! 'tis the last bugle's strain,

This is falling on the ear;

Should it so be decreed that we never meet again--

Oh, remember the Young Volunteer.

When over the desert, thru' burning rays,

With a heavy heart I tread;

Or when I breast the cannon's blaze,

And bemoan my comrades dead,

Then, then I will think of my home and you,

And our flag shall kiss the wind;

With huzza for our cause and our country too,

And the girls we leave behind.

Then adieu! then adieu! 'tis the last bugle's strain,

This is falling on the ear;

Should it so be decreed that we never meet again--

Oh, remember the Young Volunteer.

© 2009 by Heather and Raquelle Sheen. All rights reserved.

Used by permission. Unauthorized use of this music is expressly prohibited.

A young Confederate volunteer

Young volunteers like 16-year old Edwin F. Jemison pictured above inspired many songwriters by their courage and sacrifice.  One inspired individual was John Hill Hewitt (1801-1890).  Born and raised in New York City, as an adult Hewitt moved to Augusta, Georgia and later embraced the Confederacy.  Too old to fight, Hewitt instead wrote many patriotic and romanticized tunes among his more than 300 songs, including “Somebody’s Darling” and “All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight.”  “The Young Volunteer” is typical of the ballads for which he became well-known.  Today Hewitt is considered by some the “Father of the American Ballad.”  The Young Volunteer is performed here on Celtic harps.  Tragically, Jemison was killed at age 17 and was buried in his native Milledgeville, Georgia.