Singers at the Youth Traditional Song conference. Photo by Lorelei Erisis.
Photo by Lorelei Erisis
Country Dance & Song Society > Publications > Listen > Song of the Month

Song of the Month

Join us each month in song!

Since 2016—our designated Year of Song—CDSS has featured a traditional song each month. Lorraine Hammond spearheaded this effort, and it was such a popular feature that Judy Cook volunteered to continue the tradition in 2017 and beyond. 

Note: Many of these old songs should be looked at as “fairy tales for adults” in that they often address very strong, and sometimes scary, subject matter. They allow us to deal with difficult situations and emotions with the distance afforded by putting it in a song. They are cautionary tales, and had their use as such.

This month’s song:

  • Unidentified Civil War soldier in Union uniform April 2025: Goin’ ’Cross the Mountain
    Submitted by Phil Cooper

    “Goin’ ’Cross the Mountain” is a song about a Union soldier volunteer leaving his home to join the army. It shows youthful enthusiasm (before he’s going to be confronted with harsh reality).


    “Goin’ ’Cross the Mountain” has been passed along from Frank Proffitt’s family. Listen to Pete Seeger’s version, from his Live in ’65 album:

    Sheet music for "Goin' 'Cross the Mountain"
    Download the sheet music for “Goin’ ’Cross the Mountain”

    Lyrics

    I’m goin’ across the mountain
    Oh fare you well
    Goin’ ’cross the mountain
    You can hear my banjo tell

    Got my rations on my back
    My powder it is dry
    Goin’ across the mountain
    Oh Chrissy don’t you cry.

    Goin’ across the mountain
    To join the boys in blue
    When this fightin’s over
    I’ll come back to you.

    Goin’ across the mountains
    If I have to crawl
    To give old Jeff’s men
    A little of my rifle ball

    ’Spect you’ll miss me when I’m gone
    But I’m goin’ through
    When this fighting’s over
    I’ll come back to you

    Way before it’s good daylight
    If nothing happens to me
    I’ll be way down yonder
    In old Tennessee

    Phil Cooper writes: I am a guitar playing singer of mainly traditional songs. I also like a lot of unusual contemporary songs written in the folk style (I like clever word usage, regardless of its origins). Since 2007, I have been performing with my spouse, Susan Urban, as the duo February Sky. Previously, I performed with Margaret Nelson and Kate Early.  

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