TAPS
by Grumpy
Provided by and Authorized for use by Jari Villanueva
from
TapsBugler.com
Why TAPS is played at US military funerals!
If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which "taps" were played, this brings out a new meaning of it.
We here in North America have all heard the haunting song, TAPS. It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats,
and usually tears in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about it's humble beginnings.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his
men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.
During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field.
Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical
attention.
Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him
toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier,
but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock.
In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the south when the war broke out.
Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial,
despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper
in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. The wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as "TAPS" was born.
The words are :
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh
Fadeing light
Dims the sight
And a star
Gems the sky
Gleaming bright
from afar
Drawing nigh
Falls the night
Thanks and praise
For our days
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the end
As we go
This we know
God is nigh
I never knew the story behind the song, and I didn't know if you had either, so I thought I'd pass it along.
Author of "Taps" is unknown
Thanks again to Jari Villanueva for allowing us
to use a portion of the article on his web site
www.TapsBugler.com
