George F. Root wrote both the words and music and published it in 1864 to give hope to the Union prisoners of war.

In the prison cell I sit, thinking Mother, dear, of you, And our bright and happy home so far away, And the tears they fill my eyes 'spite of all that I can do, Tho' I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.

The boys are marching, Cheer up comrades they will come, And beneath the starry flag we shall breathe the air again, Of the free land in our own beloved home.

(Chorus) In addition to the original version, soldiers of the Confederate States of America made their own lyrics to the tune.

[3] In my prison cell I sit, thinking, Mother, dear, of you, and my happy Southern home so far away; and my eyes they fill with tears 'spite of all that I can do, though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.

In the battle front we stood when their fiercest charge they made, and our soldiers by the thousands sank to die; but before they reached our lines, they were driven back dismayed, and the "Rebel yell" went upward to the sky.

When I close my eyes in sleep, all the dear ones 'round me come, at night my little sister to me calls; and mocking visions bring all the warm delights of home, while we freeze and starve in Northern prison walls.

(Chorus) The song has been parodied and the melody has been repurposed numerous times: Ohio Abolitionist Joshua McCarter Simpson rewrote the lyrics.