War Songs
$1.25
By SCRIBNER
IN this brief but effective volume Struthers Burt raises his song for our people in these times. He sings of our heritage, of Jefferson and Franklin, of the over-mountain men and the Texas men, of our mountains, our music, and our dead. There are laments for beauty overthrown in this dark age and chants of the coming day of wrath for tyrants.
It is all song, ballad-like, and if varied, nearly always so within its rhythmic pattern, translucent in its meaning, simply but deeply felt, He is a true singer with instinct his guide and, when it rarely fails him, small power of self-criticism.
Essentially a minstrel, Struthers Burt is of the race of Taillefer who led the Norman array into action singing the Chanson de Roland, and juggling with his sword. Those who feel that this moment in our history calls for music will be glad to listen to his voice: —
Terrible is the rising anger,
The slow wrath of freedom’s danger;
Slow a tornado in the making,
But the black cloud sets the land shaking.
The slow wrath of freedom’s danger;
Slow a tornado in the making,
But the black cloud sets the land shaking.
In their minds, in their walk,
In their hearts, in their talk,
Freemen take their peace for granted
As the thing they have, as the thing they wanted;
In their hearts, in their talk,
Freemen take their peace for granted
As the thing they have, as the thing they wanted;
But challenge it and see the end
Of the cruel folly you defend.
Listen! Bend your ear! That drumming
Is the sky marching, the earth coming.
Of the cruel folly you defend.
Listen! Bend your ear! That drumming
Is the sky marching, the earth coming.
J. B.