When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again Analysis

The telling emotions expressed in Patrick Gilmore's song, “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again,” stand out to provide an important insight into the ending of the Civil War. We hear too often about the feelings of the men and women on the battlefield; sometimes, people forget that these brave fighters had families. While the soldiers’ morale serves as an important indicator to the outcome of the war, the attitude of their relatives at home also plays an important role in determining a winner. When commoners in the village will “ all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home,” they indirectly show their tiredness for the war (Gilmore 7). By hoping for their friend or relative to return, the people want to end the war. Furthermore, the folk in the song want “love and friendship on that day” that Johnny would return (Gilmore 22). Hence, Gilmore’s song opens an important window that shows the general demand for a finish to the conflict.

Gilmore states that the people would try to please “the warrior’s heart”(27). In addition, a “laurel wreath [that] is ready” hints at a victory; victories come from conflicts (Gilmore 19). Since Gilmore composed the piece during the Civil War, this evidence reinforces the relationship between the war and the song (“When”). Thus, the conflict initiated the hope for the return of a soldier, Johnny. The conflict and the war created the emotions in the song, forced the people to hope for Johnny’s return, and provided a reason for Gilmore to compose the piece. Furthermore, the song shows, links, and relates the effect of a war on the common people. Hence, the piece illuminates the far reaching consequences of