War Songs

A Soldier in the Colored Brigade

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

WARNING: This is a blackface minstrel song, a genre that features demeaning caricatures rooted in racism and white supremacy.

“A Soldier in the Colored Brigade” was submitted for copyright deposit on May 27, 1863, by Firth, Son & Co. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

Bring My Brother Back to Me

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

There is no record of copyright entry or deposit. The copyright claims on the title page and page 3 are for 1863. The author of the lyrics was George Cooper.

Cooper, George

Date of Birth: 
May 14, 1840
Date of Death: 
September 26, 1927

George Cooper was an American poet, lyricist, and composer. 

Dear Friends

Date of Birth: 
1982
Date of Death: 
2000

Dear Friends was the ensemble-in-residence at the Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh from 1982 through 2000. The ensemble was originally devoted to performing 19th century American Music, much of which was drawn from the University's Center for American Music's Foster Hall Collection, but expanded their repertory to reflect the diverse musical life of 19th and 20th century America, as well as traditional European and Latin Music.

For the Dear Old Flag I Die!

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

There is no record of copyright entry or deposit for “For the Dear Old Flag I Die,” but according to page three of the earliest known edition it was copyrighted in 1863.

Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)

Date of Birth: 
July 4, 1826
Date of Death: 
January 13, 1864

Stephen Foster (b. July 4, 1826, Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania; d. January 13, 1864, New York) was one of the first American songwriters to earn a living through composition alone. Many of his songs, most of which were for the parlor or minstrel stage, achieved great popularity during his lifetime and continue to be popular today. His songs depicting African Americans, however, have been controversial since they were written.

Give This to Mother

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1864

“Give This to Mother” was submitted for copyright deposit on May 7, 1864, by P. A. Wundermann of New York. The author of the lyrics is not listed on the earliest copies, but a caption title on a later copy of the song, printed by Horace Waters from Wundermann’s plates, reads “Words by S. W. Hardings.” A later copy gives his name as S. W. Harding, without the final “s.”

I’ll Be a Soldier

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1861

“I’ll Be a Soldier” was submitted for copyright deposit on July 18, 1861, by John J. Daly.

I’m Nothing but a Plain Old Soldier

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

“I’m Nothing But a Plain Old Soldier” was submitted for copyright deposit on February 14, 1863, by John J. Daly of New York.

My Boy Is Coming from the War

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

There is no record of copyright entry or deposit for “My Boy Is Coming from the War,” but the copyright claim on the title page is for 1863. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

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