Union marching song:

The Union boys are moving on the left and the right,
The bugle call is sounding, our shelters we must strike,
Joe Hooker is our leader, he takes his whisky strong,
So our knapsacks we will sling, and go marching along.

chorus:
Joe Hooker is our leader, he takes his whisky strong,
So our knapsacks we will sling, and go marching along.
Marching along, marching along,
With eight days' rations we'll go marching along.

The soft-tack days are over, our beef is on the foot,
The pork, hard-tack, and coffee we've in our knapsacks put;
The extra clothes are heavy, but on our shoulders strong,
We'll sling our eight days' rations, and go marching along.

chorus:
The extra clothes are heavy, but on our shoulders strong,
We'll sling our eight days' rations, and go marching along.

Our overcoats and dresscoats are strewn along the road.
They crowded them upon us — we couldn't tote the load,
Contractors put the job up, and we must foot the bill ;
But, Sam, our dear old uncle, we know it's not your will.

chorus:
Contractors put the job up, and we must foot the bill ;
But, Sam, our dear old uncle, we know it's not your will.

The graybacks are on us, increasing each day,
Heavy are our rations, but small is our pay;
Our spirits are light, but our cause it is strong,
With eight days' rations we go marching along.

chorus:
Our spirits are light, but our cause it is strong,
With eight days' rations we go marching along.

The Virginia hills are high, and the mud roads are long,
But we'll liven the way with a bit of home-made song ;
Then join the chorus, comrades, with voices full and strong,
While with our eight days' rations we go marching along.

chorus:
Then join the chorus, comrades, with voices full and strong,
While with our eight days' rations we go marching along.

The Johnnies are before us, their bullets buzz like bees,
They're down among the brushwood, and hid behind the trees ;
Now, keep cool, boys— there ! steady ! just give it to them strong !
And when the fight is over we'll go marching along.

chorus:
Now, keep cool, boys— there! steady! just give it to them strong!
And when the fight is over we'll go marching along.

The war won't last forever, some day we will be done
With drill, and march, and battle, and cartridge-box and gun,
We'll tramp up North from Richmond to drum and fife; and then,
Oh, won't our folks be tickled to see us home again !

chorus:
We'll tramp up North from Richmond to drum and fife; and then,
Oh, won't our folks be tickled to see us home again !