# My son has never heard "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181 "2018-04-10T19:38:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/1 "2018-04-10T19:38:54Z")
In chatting with my son son today about history and the Civil War I asked if he had ever heard that song. He said he hadnt and in fact, they never learned to sing any patriotic songs. Back when I was in school we learned [Battle Hymn.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFtNVEbasOo) He also never learned [My Country Tis of Thee.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKj7FLg3WVA) Do you think our youth should learn patriotic songs? ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/2 "2018-04-10T19:43:45Z")
We had ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ at school, but it wasn’t seen as anything other than just a hymn. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/3 "2018-04-10T19:46:10Z")
Best version ever: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t4TC6h9bpo) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/4 "2018-04-10T19:51:00Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Do you think our youth should learn patriotic songs? What is a good argument for why they _should_? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/5 "2018-04-10T19:51:25Z")
Maybe he knows “Battle Hymn” as [The Burning of the School?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Hymn_of_the_Republic#%22The_Burning_of_the_School%22) > [@Wikipedia](#): > > Typical lines are: > > Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school > We have tortured all the teachers – we have broken all the rules > We ramrocked the offices and hung the principal > March on, third grade, march on! > Glory, glory, hallelujah > My teacher hit me with a ruler > I hid behind her door with a loaded .44 > And the teacher don’t teach no more! > > Another variation has the following lyrics: > Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school > We have tortured every teacher – we have broken every rule > We plan to hang the principal and secretary too > Our troops are marching on! > Glory, glory, hallelujah > Teacher hit me with a ruler > Met her at the door with a loaded .44 > And she bothered me no more! > > Another variation has the following lyrics: > Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school > We have tortured every teacher – we have broken every rule > We plan to hang the principal and secretary too > Our troops are marching on! > Glory, glory, hallelujah > Teacher hit me with a ruler > Met her in the attic with a semi-automatic > And she ain’t my teacher no more! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/6 "2018-04-10T19:53:47Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > In chatting with my son son today about history and the Civil War I asked if he had ever heard that song. He said he hadnt and in fact, they never learned to sing any patriotic songs. > > Back when I was in school we learned [Battle Hymn.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFtNVEbasOo) > > He also never learned [My Country Tis of Thee.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKj7FLg3WVA) > > Do you think our youth should learn patriotic songs? Not even the Burning of the School version?? His friends have failed him. Speaking of failing him, if you think he should have learned those songs, why didn’t you teach him? I mean, if you feel “patriotic” songs are an important part of a child’s upbringing, maybe you should get involved. Or, since that particular song is pretty religious (Glory, glory Hallelujah, teacher hit me with a ruler…etc.), maybe you’re taking him to the wrong church. I know that my kids know all the songs from the Blues Brothers movie, for example, since I thought it was important that they know them. They know lots of Weird Al songs as well, since I think humor is an important part of a kid’s upbringing. I feel like you’ve really let him down. ETA: Darn! Partially ninja’d by **Machine Elf** ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/7 "2018-04-10T19:54:18Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Do you think our youth should learn patriotic songs? Sure, so grab your guitar and teach him some. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/8 "2018-04-10T19:54:32Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What is a good argument for why they _should_? Ironically, there’s probably a large overlap between the people who think schools should be teaching children The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the people who display Confederate flags. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/9 "2018-04-10T19:57:27Z")
If you think he should know these, teach him yourself. Why should schools teach this? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/10 "2018-04-10T19:57:28Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > In chatting with my son son today about history and the Civil War I asked if he had ever heard that song. He said he hadnt and in fact, they never learned to sing any patriotic songs. > > Back when I was in school we learned [Battle Hymn.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFtNVEbasOo) > > He also never learned [My Country Tis of Thee.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKj7FLg3WVA) > > Do you think our youth should learn patriotic songs? That’a actually Solidarity Forever and God Save the Queen with the words changed. What are they teaching kids in school these days?! ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/11 "2018-04-10T20:14:00Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > That’a actually Solidarity Forever and God Save the Queen with the words changed. What are they teaching kids in school these days?! Solidarity Forever is actually the Battle Hymn since the Battle Hymn predated it by 50 some years. Of course, the Battle Hymn is actually ‘John Brown’s Body.’ And John Brown’s body is actually a camp meeting song from the Second Great Awakening called ‘Oh Brothers.’ The original author has been lost to history. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/12 "2018-04-10T20:15:06Z")
Or if you don’t sing well, there’s You Tube. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/13 "2018-04-10T20:16:52Z")
So what? He’s probably never heard/seen lots of things. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/14 "2018-04-10T20:17:44Z")
“Battle Hymn of the Republic” has become a museum piece, that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/15 "2018-04-10T20:20:22Z")
OP, I never pegged you for a liberal, expecting the government to do everything for you, including parenting. I thought you were in the party of personal responsibility. Live and learn, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/16 "2018-04-10T20:20:24Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Maybe he knows “Battle Hymn” as [The Burning of the School?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Hymn_of_the_Republic#%22The_Burning_of_the_School%22) > [@RitterSport](#): > > Not even the Burning of the School version?? His friends have failed him. Any student these days that dared to sing such a violent song would be lucky to get off with a 3-day suspension. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/17 "2018-04-10T20:25:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Ironically, there’s probably a large overlap between the people who think schools should be teaching children The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the people who display Confederate flags. That would be “Dixie” and the confederate flag, not “Battle Hymn” (a union song) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/18 "2018-04-10T20:30:43Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Any student these days that dared to sing such a violent song would be lucky to get off with a 3-day suspension. How about if you sing the one about the dead polar bear? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/19 "2018-04-10T20:33:08Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > OP, I never pegged you for a liberal, expecting the government to do everything for you, including parenting. I thought you were in the party of personal responsibility. > > Live and learn, I guess. :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/20 "2018-04-10T20:37:15Z")
I think Battle Hymn probably fits in with any number of “Americana” songs - Home on the Range, Red River Valley, etc - that most grade school children should be exposed to. Of course, the days are long past, when every classroom had an upright piano, and every teacher could pound away at such songs for the regular “music” lessons… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181.md?page=2)