Missouri or A Voice from the South

Harry Macarthy

From the sheet music collection of Susan Hopkins:  "Missouri or A Voice from the South" by Harry Macarthy.  Given that I cannot find the tune online, we will have to make do with the sheet music here.  For more on Harry Macarthy, there is an interesting article at history.net entitled, "Harry Macarthy:  The Bob Hope of the Confederacy".  The Missouri History Museum has an entire website devoted to the civil war in Missouri. 

Sheet music from Library of Congress

Missouri, A Voice from the South

Missouri!  Missouri!  bright land of the West,

Where the way-worn emigrant always found rest,

Who gave to the farmer reward for the toil,

Expended in breaking and turning the soil;

Awake to the notes of the bugle and drum!

Awake from your peace, for the tyrant hath come;

And swear by your honor that your chains shall be riven,

And add your bright Star to our Flag of Eleven.

They'd force you to join in their unholy fight,

With fire and with sword, with power and with might,

'Gainst Fathers and Brothers, and kindred near,

'Gainst women and children, and all you hold dear;

They've o'errun your soil, insulted your press,

Murdered your citizens, shown no redress:

So swear by your honor that your chains shall be riven,

And add your bright Star to our Flag of Eleven.

Missouri!  Missouri!  where is thy proud fame!

Free land of the West, they once cherished name?

Trod in the dust by a tyrant's command,

Proclaiming there's martial law in the land.

Men of Missouri! strike without fear!

McCulloch, Jackson, and brave men are near;

Swear by your honor that your chains shall be riven,

And add your bright star to our Flag of eleven.