That's What's the Matter (1862)
The Monitor and the Merrimac as mentioned in the song. Photo courtesy of WikiCommons (click image for more info)
“That’s What’s the Matter” was written in 1862, shortly after the beginning of the American Civil War which was fought from 1861-1865 between those northern states that remained loyal to the Union and those southern states that had declared their secession from the United States of America. The rousing song reflects the youthful enthusiasm with which many young Union soldiers headed into the civil war, convinced of an easy victory over their rebel brothers and blissfully unaware of what awaited them. By the time the war was over, around 750,000 Americans from both sides had died.
We live in hard and stirring times,
Too sad for mirth, too rough for rhymes;
For songs of peace have lost their chimes,
And that’s what’s the matter!
The men we held as brothers true,
Have turn’d into a rebel crew;
So now we have to put them thro’,
And that’s what’s the matter!
Chorus:
That’s what’s the matter,
The rebels have to scatter;
We’ll make them flee,
By land and sea,
And that’s what’s the matter!
Oh! yes, we thought our neighbors true,
Indulg’d them as their mothers do;
They storm’d our bright Red, White and Blue,
And that’s what’s the matter!
We’ll never give up what we gain,
For now we know we must maintain
Our Laws and Rights with might and main;
And that’s what’s the matter!
Chorus
The rebels thought we could divide,
And Democrats would take their side;
They then would let the Union slide,
And that’s what’s the matter!
But, when the war had once begun,
All party feeling soon was gone;
We join’d as brothers, ev’ry one!
And that’s what’s the matter!
Chorus
The Merrimac, with heavy sway,
Had made our Fleet an easy prey__
The Monitor got in the way,
And that’s what’s the matter!
So health to Captain Ericsson,
I cannot tell all he has done,
I’d never stop when once begun,
And that’s what’s the matter!
Chorus
We’ve heard of Gen’ral Beauregard,
And thought he’d fight us long and hard;
But he has play’d out his last card,
And that’s what’s the matter!
So what’s the use to fret and pout,
We soon will hear the people shout,
Secession dodge is all play’d out!
And that’s what’s the matter!
Chorus