Better Times Are Coming Songtext
von Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming

There are voices of hope that are borne on the air
And our land will be freed from its clouds of despair
For brave men and true men to battle have gone
And good times, good times are now coming on

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming

Abram Lincoln has the army and the navy in his hands
While Seward keeps our honor bright abroad in foreign lands
And Stanton is a man, who is sturdy as a rock
With brave men to back him up and stand the battle′s shock

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming


Now McClellan is a leader and we'll let him take away
For a man in his position, he should surely have his way
Our nation′s honor'd Scott, he has trusted to his might
Your faith in McClellan put for we are sure he's right

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming

General Lyon and Baker and Ellsworth now are gone
But still we have some brave men to lead the soldiers on
The noise of the battle will soon have died away
And the darkness now upon us will be turn′d to happy day

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming

Generals Sigel and Halleck, they have conquered in the West
And Burnside, victorious, he rides the ocean′s breast
The traitors and the rebels will soon meet their doom
Then peace and prosperity will dwell in every home

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming


Captain Foote is commander of the Mississippi fleet
For his flag he strikes and makes the traitors beat a quick retreat
With iron-clad gun-boats he makes the rebels run
While Grant makes our colors wave and glitter in the sun

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming

General Fremont the path-finder never lags behind
He is gone to the mountains, new pathways to find
His voice is for freedom and his sword is for the right
Then hail, noble Fremont, the nation's delight

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming

From the land of the Shamrock there′s stuff that never yields
For we've brave Colonel Corcoran and gallant General Shields
From Meagher soon we′ll hear for we know that he is true
And stands for the honor of the Red, White and Blue

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
Sound the news from the din of battle booming
Tell the people far and wide that better times are coming

Here's health to Captain Ericsson, the Monitor and crew
Who showed the southern chivalry a thing they never knew
The Merrimac had slayed as St. Patrick did the toads
Till Worden with the Monitor came into Hampton roads