You’ll recognize the melody when you hear it belted out by this choir.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic originated as a basic marching song with less-than-meaningful lyrics. The original title was John Brown’s Body, and the words were irreverent, funny, and, for some, scary.
Julia Ward Howe was moved by the song’s melody and believed that such a strong tune merited lyrics that were a little more ambitious.
Since her modification, the song has become a popular patriotic anthem, with many people humming it without knowing what it is or where it came from.
In 1959, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir made the song a Billboard Top 40 hit. However, the song’s fame extends far beyond such pop culture awards.
It has such a deep symbolic meaning in American history that it will serve as a reminder of difficult times in the past for future generations.