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Analysis Of The Confederate Song 'The Bonnie Blue Flag'

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. There are particular lines in the formerly popular confederate song “The Bonnie Blue Flag” that capture the southern defense of rebellion. Before analyzing the southern defense of rebellion it is important to examine the origins of the song. The author Harry Macarthy “…was an English-born vaudeville entertainer who immigrated to the United States and settled in Arkansas in 1849” (Tubb). This is important to point out because Macarthy an entertainer and comedian wrote the song using the tune from an Irish song “The Irish Jaunting Car” (Tubb). Many critics claim that Macarthy “…was more interested in attracting audiences and making money than he was in supporting the Southern cause” (Tubb). The song nevertheless was a hit with Southern soldiers and citizens alike. …show more content…

The song begins by validating the necessity for the south to fight “We are a band of brothers, And native to the soil, Fighting for the property We gained by honest toil” (608). Another key aspect of the song worth pointing out is the fact that this song lays out an inaccurate order of secession of the states that went on to form the Confederacy. The song, however, correctly identifies South Carolina as the first state to secede the union “First gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand” (608). It’s the lines that follow that seem to be out of place “Then came Alabama and took her by the hand; Next, quickly Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida” (608). The true order of secession after South Carolina is as follows: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and then Georgia. It’s not clear whether this mistake is intentional or accidental, however, it does question the competency of the southern forces in rebellion of Northern control. Much like the southern defense of war this song is all spirit and no substance making it ideal for the south to use as a tool to rally around an

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