There’s something wonderfully American, in the best sense of the word, about the incongruity of a folk singer known for protest music performing this patriotic song from the Civil War. Almost exactly 100 years after Julia Ward Howe wrote the lyrics for the Union’s anthem, Joan Baez made this recording live, the audience singing along. It was a year before the Civil Rights Act, the Vietnam War was ramping up, and an epidemic of monkey-see-monkey-do assassinations were about to tear the country apart. Again. Baez ended her 1963 concert with this, an invitation to the better angels of our natures.

“Battle Hymn of the Republic,” performed by Joan Baez, 1963; music by William Steffe, 1856; lyrics by Julia Ward Howe, 1861.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to early June, 2025.

To receive a weekly summary rather than a daily email, please subscribe on my Substack blog The Impatient Reader. Instructions here.