Tenting on the Old Camp Ground
Words and Music by Walter Kittredge

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This song was a sentimental favorite of Union and Confederate soldiers, both during and after the American Civil War.  The war weariness and desire for peace expressed in the song were common amongst the soldiers by the time this song was published in 1864, the third year of the war.  There were attempts by both armies to suppress this song because it was considered by some to be bad for moral; these efforts were not successful.   After the war "Tenting Tonight" became a musical staple at gatherings of veterans.  Walter Kittredge (1834-1905) was a composer, lecturer, and singer who for a time performed with the famous Hutchinson Family singers.

"We're tenting tonight on the old Camp ground,
Give us a song to cheer,
Our weary hearts, a song of home,
And friends we love so dear."

Chorus
"Many are the hearts that are weary tonight,
Wishing for the war to cease;
Many are the hearts looking for the right
To see the dawn of peace.
Tenting tonight,
Tenting tonight,
Tenting on the old Camp ground."

"We've been tenting tonight on the old Camp ground,
Thinking of days gone by,
Of the loved one's at home, that gave us the hand,
And the tear that said "Good bye!"
(Chorus)

"We are tired of war on the old Camp ground,
Many are dead and gone,
Of the brave and true who've left their homes,
Others been wounded long."
(Chorus)

"We've been fighting today on the old Camp ground,
Many are lying near;
Some are dead and some are dying,
Many are in tears."

Final Chorus
"Many are the hearts that are weary tonight,
Wishing for the war to cease;
Many are the hearts looking for the right
To see the dawn of peace.
Dying tonight,
Dying tonight,
Dying on the old Camp ground."

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This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created March 25, 2000.  Last updated August 6, 2002.