God save the South, God save the South,
Her altars and firesides, God save the South!
Now that the war is nigh, now that we arm to die,
Chanting our battle cry, "Freedom or death!"
Chanting our battle cry, "Freedom or death!"

God be our shield, at home or afield,
Stretch Thine arm over us, strengthen and save.
What tho' they're three to one, forward each sire and son,
Strike till the war is won, strike to the grave!
Strike till the war is won, strike to the grave!

God made the right stronger than might,
Millions would trample us down in their pride.
Lay Thou their legions low, roll back the ruthless foe,
Let the proud spoiler know God's on our side.
Let the proud spoiler know God's on our side.

Hark honor's call, summoning all.
Summoning all of us unto the strife.
Sons of the South, awake! Strike till the brand shall break,
Strike for dear Honor's sake, Freedom and Life!
Strike for dear Honor's sake, Freedom and Life!

Rebels before, our fathers of yore.
Rebel's the righteous name Washington bore.
Why, then, be ours the same, the name that he snatched from shame,
Making it first in fame, foremost in war.
Making it first in fame, foremost in war.

War to the hilt, theirs be the guilt,
Who fetter the free man to ransom the slave.
Up then, and undismay'd, sheathe not the battle blade,
Till the last foe is laid low in the grave!
Till the last foe is laid low in the grave!

God save the South, God save the South,
Dry the dim eyes that now follow our path.
Still let the light feet rove safe through the orange grove,
Still keep the land we love safe from Thy wrath.
Still keep the land we love safe from Thy wrath.

God save the South, God save the South,
Her altars and firesides, God save the South!
For the great war is nigh, and we will win or die,
Chanting our battle cry, "Freedom or death!"
Chanting our battle cry, "Freedom or death!"



-------------------------

Confederate States of America
"God Save the South"

Words by:George H. Miles
Music by:Charles Wolfgang Amadeus Ellerbrock
In use:1861-1865

The Confederate States of America (also referred to as "The Confederacy" or
simply "The South") had, like the United_States at the time, several patriotic
songs in use which could have been considered anthems, like "Dixie", "The
Bonnie Blue Flag", and "God Save the South", none of which were officially
declared (possibly because declaring an official anthem wasn't as important to
a new nation then as it is now). "God Save the South" does have more of an
anthemaic quality in the music and lyrics, and several publications of the song
refer to it as a (or the) "anthem".

"God Save the South" was written by a Marylander (Maryland was actually not one
of the states to join the Confederacy) soon after the civil war started, by
George H. Miles, though he wrote under the pseudonym Earnest Halphin. The
composer also composed the music for Maryland's state song. "God Save the
South" was actually the first song to be published in the Confederacy in at
least nine editions (lending it more credence as a national anthem)

An interesting thing to note about the song is the reference to George
Washington (the first president of the United States) in the song's fifth
verse. Apparently, the author of the song meant to tie in Washington's stance
as a rebel against the British in the American revolution with the South's
rebellion against the northern United States in the civil war.

Special thanks to:Paul Bergeron and Tyler Dykstra for informing me of this
anthem.

See also: United_States_(?-1931).
