Charles Ives - Lincoln the Great Commoner

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And so he came from the prairie cabin to the Capitol
One fair ideal led our chieftain on
He built the rail pile as he built the State
The conscience testing every stroke
To make his deed the measure of the man...
So came our Captain with the mighty heart;
And when the step of earthquake shook the house
Wrenching rafters from their ancient hold
He hеld the ridge-pole up
And spikеd again the rafters of the Home....
He held his place ...
He held the long purpose like a growing tree
Held on thro' blame and faltered not at praise
And when he fell in whirlwind
He went down as when a Kingly cedar green with boughs
Goes down with a great shout, upon the hills!

Release Date: January 01, 1922

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Charles Ives

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The meaning of the song

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"Lincoln the Great Commoner" is a powerful and stirring tribute to the iconic American president, Abraham Lincoln. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of Lincoln's rise from humble beginnings in a prairie cabin to his leadership in the Capitol. The song celebrates Lincoln's unwavering dedication to his ideals, his tireless efforts to build both the nation and the railroad, and his steadfast commitment to his principles in the face of challenges and adversity. The imagery of Lincoln as a mighty captain holding the house together during a political earthquake, and as a majestic cedar falling with a great shout, captures the essence of his strength, resilience, and enduring legacy. Through its evocative lyrics and stirring melody, "Lincoln the Great Commoner" pays homage to one of America's greatest leaders and inspires listeners to reflect on his enduring impact on the nation.

Biography

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Arguably the first modernist composer, Charles Ives (1874-1954) was a solitary figure who composed in obscurity for most of his life. The son of a U.S. Army bandleader, Ives enjoyed a wildly successful career as an insurance executive. In his spare time, he composed music in a wide variety of genres that combined popular song, church hymns, military marches, and European art music in ways that used tone clusters, polytonality, and other techniques decades before they were adopted by European composers.