That's What's the Matter Songtext
von Thomas Hampson

We live in hard and stirring times
Too sad for mirth, too rough for rhymes
For songs of peace have lost their chimes
And that′s what's the matter!
The men we held as brothers true
Have turn′s into a rebel crew
So now we have to put them thro'
And that's what′s the matter!

That′s what's the matter
The rebels have to scatter
We′ll make them flee
By land and sea
And that's what′s the matter!


Oh! yes, we thought our neighbors true
Indulg'd them as their mothers do
Thy storm′d our bright Red, White and Blue
And that's what's the matter!
We′ll never give up what we gain
For now we know we must maintain
Our Laws and Rights with might and main
And that′s what's the matter!

The rebels thought we would divide
And Democrats would take their side
They then would let the Union slide
And that′s what's the matter!
But, when the war had once begun
All party feeling soon was gone
We join′d as brothers, ev'ry oneS!
And that′s what's the matter!

The Merrimac, with heavy sway
Had made our Fleet an easy prey
The Monitor got in the way
And that's what′s the matter!
So health to Captain Ericsson
I cannot tell all he has done
I′d never stop when once begun
And that's what′s the matter!


We've heard of Gen′ral Beauregard
And thought he'd fight us long and hard
But he has play′d out his last card
And that's what's the matter!
So what′s the use to fret and pout
We soon will hear the people shout
Secession dodge is all play′d out!
And that's what′s the matter!