In 1862, George F. Root composed, printed, and released the lyrics to a song that would be one of the most popular songs in the Union Army and the Northern home front. That song was "Battle Cry of Freedom," a rousing tune that proved so popular that demand for its lyric sheets was overwhelming the printers, and the Confederacy quickly adapted its own lyrics.
Not only was it an inspirational song, but it perfectly satisfied both political factions that made up the North: the abolitionists who fought to free Southern slaves, and the unionists who cared more about bringing the Rebel states back into the fold.
As we enter 2024, an election as pivotal as the 1864 election, this song could not be more relevant, even if we might have to modify a couple of words in its lyrics to make it more in line with current events.
"But what about Rich Men North of Richmond?" you may ask. Oliver Anthony's smash hit from this past August certainly struck a chord with everybody when he first dropped the song, his lyrics perfectly capturing our lament in seeing an America we know and love crumbling before our very eyes for the benefit of those Rich Men North of Richmond.
Related: This New Song Should Scare the Bejeezus Out of the Left
However, and with no disrespect to the song or Oliver Anthony, the fact that it very much is a lament is why something more upbeat and energizing is needed for an election year, and we often need to draw from the past to find inspiration in the present.
After all, "Battle Cry of Freedom" was written at a time when the nation was literally divided, and America is almost as polarized now as it was back then (for those keeping score at home, the riots of 2020 will probably be viewed in the same vein as the events of Bleeding Kansas if the worst happens). So why not revive a song calling for us to rally against those who have betrayed our trust, and do so like happy warriors?
Thus while we can lament the damage the Biden Administration has inflicted on us through "Rich Men North of Richmond," this election year means we still have a chance to start turning it around, and that is something to take courage in and get hyped for.
Sure, we have Jason Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" as well which is just as galvanizing, but arguably not as relevant since anti-Trump rioting has not started yet (which we all know is going to happen), and it is more a song of defiance against leftist rioters than it is a song to rally and inspire people to vote.
Plus, it remains as inclusive today as it did back then. It's not a song just for the Trump diehards, but DeSantis supporters can take from it as well, as can voters who belong to what have been solid-blue voting blocs and are seeing just how bad things currently are and are at least willing to hold their nose and vote for Trump.
And we should welcome those voters with open arms because every vote against Biden, or whoever his handlers replace him with at the Democratic National Convention replace him with, counts.
Whatever people may think of Trump, things were objectively better under him than they are under Biden, and more people are realizing it. So let's rally them around the flag, shouting the battle cry of freedom.
