A New Dictionary: Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

Posted by Heather at 9:53 AM

Almost everyone knows the children's song "Jesus loves the little children." Or at least they think they do. What most people don't realize is that they only know the refrain of the hymn. Another thing people are not aware of is the tune is that of an American Civil War song, "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp."

George Frederick Root (1820-1895) composed the original song in 1863, when many men from both sides of the war were languishing in prison camps (the song was written for the North). It quickly caught on with the public and soldiers alike and became one of the most famous prison songs ever written. It was so popular that the Confederates soon created their own lyrics.

This was not Root's first well known composition. When the Civil War broke out he started writing patriotic songs for the Union. In July of 1862 he penned "The Battle Cry of Freedom" in a single day, in response to Lincoln's call for 300,000 volunteers to join the Union Army. Other well known songs of Root's include "Just Before the Battle, Mother" and "The Vacant Chair"