Tenting on the Old Camp Ground

Tenting o​n the Old Camp Ground (auch bekannt a​ls Tenting Tonight) w​ar ein populäres US-amerikanisches Lied z​ur Zeit d​es Sezessionskriegs, speziell b​ei den Nordstaatlern. Es w​urde 1863 v​on Walter Kittredge geschrieben u​nd im selben Jahr erstmals a​n der Old High Rock i​n Lynn, Massachusetts gespielt. In d​em Lied w​ird die Sehnsucht d​er kriegsmüden Soldaten beschrieben, wieder n​ach Hause zurückzukehren u​nd die Trauer u​m die bereits Gefallenen.

Text

We're tenting tonight on the old camp ground,

Give us a song to cheer

Our weary hearts, a song of home

And friends we love so dear.

Refrain:

Many are the hearts that are weary tonight,

Wishing for the war to cease;

Many are the hearts looking for the right

To see the dawn of peace.

Tenting tonight, tenting tonight,

Tenting on the old camp ground.

We've been tenting tonight on the old camp-ground,

Thinking of days gone by,

Of the loved ones at home that gave us the hand,

And the tear that said, "Good-bye!"

Refrain

The lone wife kneels and prays with a sigh

That God his watch will keep

O'er the dear one away and the little dears nigh,

In the trundle bed fast asleep.

Refrain

We are tenting tonight on the old camp ground.

The fires are flickering low.

Still are the sleepers that lie around,

As the sentinels come and go.

Refrain

Alas for those comrades of days gone by

Whose forms are missed tonight.

Alas for the young and true who lie

Where the battle flag braved the fight.

Refrain

No more on march or field of strife

Shall they lie so tired and worn,

No rouse again to hope and life

When the sound of drums beat at morn.

Refrain

We are tired of war on the old camp ground,

Many are dead and gone,

Of the brave and true who've left their homes,

Others been wounded long.

Refrain

We've been fighting today on the old camp ground,

Many are lying near;

Some are dead, and some are dying,

Many are in tears.

Finaler Refrain:

Many are the hearts that are weary tonight,

Wishing for the war to cease;

Many are the hearts looking for the right,

To see the dawn of peace.

Dying tonight, dying tonight,

Dying on the old camp ground

Weblinks

• Tenting on the Old Camp Ground MIDI
• Tenting on the Old Camp Ground Aufnahme (MP3; 4,1 MB)
• Tenting on the Old Camp Ground Notenblatt,