# Why Is Battle Hymn of the Republic So Violent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2016, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321 "2016-10-12T10:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/21 "2016-10-12T19:36:27Z")
I recall that it was played at [Winston Churchill’s funeral](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y6t-VTW4Uc) (2:30) in recognition of his American mother. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/22 "2016-10-13T02:43:39Z")
In colour 🙂 if anyone’s interested: [Sir Winston Churchill's Funeral: A World In Remembrance (1965) | British Pathé - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC1WEdgXKEI#t=6m17s) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/23 "2016-10-13T03:03:05Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > What gives with such a violent song? And was she aware of this fact too, that it could be interpreted this way? It’s a battle hymn. You were expecting it to be kind of chill and woke? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/24 "2016-10-13T03:42:20Z")
Psh. My favorite from that era is the Maryland state anthem, which was written about anti-Union mob riots in Baltimore. > [@](#): > > I hear the distant thunder-hum, > Maryland! > The Old Line’s bugle, fife, and drum, > Maryland! > She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb- > Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum! > She breathes! she burns! she’ll come! she’ll come! > Maryland! My Maryland! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/25 "2016-10-13T10:16:45Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > You think _that’s_ brutal (late '60s Catholic school) Or try any of these: [http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=124302](http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=124302) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/26 "2016-10-13T12:17:00Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Psh. My favorite from that era is the Maryland state anthem, which was written about anti-Union mob riots in Baltimore. Wow. Jabba the Hutt would comment, “_My_ kind of scum.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/27 "2016-10-13T16:38:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Psh. My favorite from that era is the Maryland state anthem, which was written about anti-Union mob riots in Baltimore. Of _course_ you recognize the tune–it’s “O Tannenbaum.” ---
**Author:** ![misling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@misling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misling)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/28 "2016-10-13T17:47:38Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Psh. My favorite from that era is the Maryland state anthem, which was written about anti-Union mob riots in Baltimore. I remember learning that one in 4th? grade while my dad was stationed in DC for a couple years. “The Despot’s heel is on thy shore, Maryland, my maryland His torch is at thy temple door! Maryland, my maryland.” I couldn’t sing it without giggling. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/29 "2016-10-13T18:16:43Z")
> [@misling](#): > > I remember learning that one in 4th? grade while my dad was stationed in DC for a couple years. > > “The Despot’s heel is on thy shore, > Maryland, my maryland > His torch is at thy temple door! > Maryland, my maryland.” > > I couldn’t sing it without giggling. Parodied at the time, by Union supporters and soldiers, thus: “The despot’s feet are on thy shore, Maryland, my Maryland! I smell 'em half a mile and more Maryland, my Maryland!” ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321/30 "2016-10-20T02:17:57Z")
My father, a lifelong atheist, has asked for that song to be played at his funeral. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-so-violent/768321.md?page=1)