The Song Lorena, 1856 By Rev. Henry D. L. Webster

Upon researching for Civil War era songs, I noticed there was a pattern between the lines of the songs. They were pleasing poetry, with a simple arrangement to be played on the piano and was easily memorable to sing to others. They ranged as far from political ideas, to heroes in war, loved one's misfortune, and plenty more. Each song I listened, I felt the emotion that was poured on to the writing. I can see how it resonated in many citizens and how it the words would spread so quickly. These songs were expressing how many felt during that time period. The war was so bloody and many were injured or killed, it was a time of anguish and suffering- whether that be economically, politically, and/or socially. I think the song, Lorena, does accurately reflect the era. People could relate to it and it subtly opens the idea that everything the person is exposed too, makes them slowly get detached from their lover. They can't control it, but they can still remember the sweet few memories of the past to hold on to, to keep their sanity in this war. The song Lorena was very popular during the Civil War due to this, as the soldiers began to think of their
Henry D. L. Webster. He was feeling heartache due to a difficult time in his life of dealing with an engagement that ended. He was a pastor who saw Miss. Blocksom, but since he was a pastor, he couldn't act on those feelings and nor could she. Miss. Blocksom then wrote Henry D. L. Webster a letter that they shouldn't be continuing this act because it would honestly never happen because of his role in the church. In the letter she included the phrase, "If we try, we may forget", which was then added into the song. He then met a man named Joseph Philbrick Webster, who needed lyrics and Henry provided so. He wrote down the passion in his poem and changed his fiancée’s name to Lorena, as the lyricist needed a three-syllable word. It was then published in the next year,