A soldier returns from war, 1863 words and music by Louis Lambert
Sheet Music
Accompaniment
Lyrics
Chorus
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home
This is an American song that is similar to the British: Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye. In that lyric, the young man is either dead or badly maimed. That explains the minor key. Band leader Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore (pseudonym Louis Lambert) was originally from Ireland. In his hopeful Civil War version Johnny is fine. Many expected the war to end earlier than it did. The resulting rousing march emphasizes the thrill of welcoming home a soldier.
Performance
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