Marching Song of the First Arkansas
Oh, we're the bully soldiers of the First
of Arkansas
We are fighting for the Union, we are fighting for the law
We can hit a Rebel further than a white man ever saw,
As we go marching on!
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
As we go marching on!
See, there above the center where the flag
is waving bright,
We are going out of slavery; we're bound for freedom's light,
We mean to show Jeff Davis how the Africans can fight
As we go marching on!
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
As we go marching on!
We are done with hoeing cotton! We are
done with hoeing corn
We are colored Yankee soldiers now, as sure as you are born
When the masters hear us yellin', they'll think us Gabriel's horn
As we go marching on!
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
As we go marching on!
They said, Now colored brethren, you shall
be forever free
From the first of January, eighteen hundred sixty-three.
We heard it in the river going rushing to the sea,
As it went sounding on.
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
As we go marching on!
Father Abraham has spoken and the message
has been sent
The prison doors be opened, and out the pris'ners went
To join the sable army of the African descent
As we go marching on
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
Glory Glory hallelujah
As we go marching on