The Assassination in Song

[Gene C]

John Wilkes Booth by Tony Rice, written by Mary Chapin Carpenter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv-5cy_mjoc

Lyrics -
http://www.metrolyrics.com/john-wilkes-b...-rice.html

[L Verge]

We have the original old LP of this in the James O. Hall Research Center. Mr. Rice is a friend of one of the gentlemen who narrate our Booth Tours and gave us the album back in the 1980s.

[Dave Taylor]

I enjoy the old folk ballad called "Booth Killed Lincoln". You can listen to the song here:

http://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197419?loclr=blogflt

and here are the Lyrics:

Wilkes Booth came to Washington,
An actor great was he,
He played at Ford's Theater,
And Lincoln came to see.
It was early in April,
Not many weeks ago,
The people of this fair city
All gathered at the show.
The war it is all over,
The people happy now,
And Abraham Lincoln
Arose to take a bow.
The people cheer him wildly,
All rising to their feet,
And Lincoln waving of his hand,
He calmly takes his seat.
And as he sees the play go on,
His thoughts are running deep,
His darling wife, close by his side,
Has fallen fast asleep.
And from the box there hangs a flag,
It is not the Stars and Bars,
But the flag that holds within its folds
Bright gleaming stripes and stars.
J. Wilkes Booth walks down the aisle,
He had measured once before,
He passes Lincoln's bodyguard
A-nodding at the door.
He holds a dagger in his right hand,
A pistol in his left,
He shoots poor Lincoln in the temple,
And sends his soul to rest.
His wife awakes from slumber,
And screams all in her rage,
Booth jumps over the railing
And lands him on the stage.
He will rue the day, he'll rue the hour,
As God him life will give,
When Booth stands in the center stage,
Shouting, "Tyrants shall not live!"
The people all excited now,
Shout, “Everyone, a hand!"
The people who are nearest cry,
"For God's sake, take that man!"
But Booth runs back with boot and spur
Across the backstage floor,
He mounts that trusty claybank mare,
All saddled at the door.
J. Wilkes Booth, in his last play,
All dressed in broadcloth deep,
He gallops down the alleyway,
I hear them horses feet.
Poor Lincoln then was heard to say,
And all has gone to rest,
"Of all the actors in this town,
I loved Wilkes Booth the best."

[Gene C]

We're thinking the same thing Dave. I was going to wait a day or two before I posted all this.

Booth Shot Lincoln - author unknown

This folk song origin can not be traced beyond the early 1900's, so far. I haven't been able to find a good recording of the words and music together, at least one I like.
Thanks for posting that version Dave, I looked and couldn't find it.

Here are the lyrics from LincolnMan's blog -Abe's Blog Cabin
http://abesblogcabin.org/booth-shot-linc...uncle-earl

Here's the tune on the fiddle only
https://app.box.com/shared/6uf6sxgddu

Here is the best version on the banjo only (in my opinion, crisp and clear)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z_DPOe_6FE

Here are the words set to a different tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omrCkn1y0jc

For those of you interested, here is a short discussion about the song on fiddle and banjo blogs
http://www.fiddlehangout.com/archive/20719
http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/156382

[Wild Bill]

The first line is the title for Larry Starkey's book on the assassination. Good read!

[LincolnMan]

"He shoots poor Lincoln in the temple."- well close enough I guess for lyrics to a song!

[Gene C]

Since we've been talking about Mary Lincoln on another thread, I thought I'd post this song titled
"Live But One Moment" by J W Turner, written in 1865.

The cover of the sheet music says "Live!, exclaimed the wife of our lamented president as she stood bending o'er his dying form. Live but for one moment, to speak to me once more, to speak to our children"

I could find the sheet music, but not a site that had the tune. Maybe someone will have better luck finding it than I did and can post it.
Here are the lyrics:

Live but one moment, speak but once more!
Speak to the children, one word I implore!
breathe but one accent, To cheer this sad heart
Live but one moment E'er we must part!

Live but one moment! Dearest and best,
Tender companion In sadness oppressed;
Let me but hear again That voice so dear,
Live but one moment This heart to cheer

Live but one moment, O, 'twas too late!
Death like and silent The lips of the great
A fond wife stood weeping In anguish and pain,
For one loving accent to bless her again

Here is the link for the sheet music
http://www.loc.gov/resource/ihas.200002124#seq-1

[LincolnToddFan]

That one anguished line of Mary's.. "Love, live but one moment to speak to me...speak to our children!" always brings tears to my eyes and of course I first read it many, many years ago. Also when she tells the others to bring Tad, because the president loves the boy so much he will surely awake and speak to him.

So sad!

[LincolnMan]

That had to be a very sad tune...

[BettyO]

Quote:I could find the sheet music, but not a site that had the tune. Maybe someone will have better luck finding it than I did and can post it.
Here are the lyrics:

Live but one moment, speak but once more!
Speak to the children, one word I implore!
breathe but one accent, To cheer this sad heart
Live but one moment E'er we must part!

Live but one moment! Dearest and best,
Tender companion In sadness oppressed;
Let me but hear again That voice so dear,
Live but one moment This heart to cheer

Live but one moment, O, 'twas too late!
Death like and silent The lips of the great
A fond wife stood weeping In anguish and pain,
For one loving accent to bless her again

I was able to generate the first page for the tune - it is indeed depressing.....

I'll attempt to make a better recording tonight -

CLICK HERE.

---

The Parlor Songs Site has some wonderful renditions of little heard Civil War and Assassination songs. You can download these -

http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2008-10/th...eature.php

I also have sheet music for General Hartranft's March, the Laura Keen Schottish as well as Little Tad.....I'll try and scan these in later today or over the weekend for your listening enjoyment.....

[BettyO]

Also coming soon - Our Brutus and The Assassin's Vision.... Don't touch that dial!

[LincolnToddFan]

In one of the countless assassination books I have read over the years there was a very detailed account of AL's NYC funeral rites. It described how the president's remains were taken to City Hall to lie in state in an open coffin, and then at midnight of April 25-26 in the pitch dark a German men's choral group gathered around Lincoln's body to sing this song by candlelight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wzI1jLCAuM

It's called the "Integer Vitae"...loosely translated as "the man of upright life, the man of honorable life". It's based on a very ancient Roman poem that describes how a man who leads such a life has no need of swords or weaponry. Perfect for Abraham Lincoln.

Very hauntingly beautiful scene it must have been that midnight at NYC Hall.

[Gene C]

Sheet music on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Abraham-Lincoln-...5408af6f24

[LincolnMan]

Or should "He shoots poor Lincoln in the temple" have been "He shoots poor Lincoln in the theater."
Good morning everyone!

[Gene C]

"Weep not for the Slain O Columbia"
http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois...show/20091

Sheet music from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library's, Lincoln Sheet Music Collection