The Concord Hymn The "Concord Hymn" (originally "Hymn: Sung at the Completion of the Concord Monument, April 19, 1836") is a poem written by Ralph Waldo Emerson for the 1837 dedication of the Obelisk, a monument in Concord, Massachusetts, commemorating the Battle of Concord, the second in a series of battles and skirmishes on April 19, 1837. The poem was first published that year in Joseph Henry's journal, The American Museum.
Emerson wrote several other poems for the occasion, including "O Captain! My Captain!" He also delivered an oration which has been called one of the greatest speeches in American history.
In 1937, the New York Herald Tribune described the Concord Hymn as follows: "It is doubtful if any other short work of prose or poetry has been more frequently quoted than this little hymn. It is found in many Bibles, and its sentiment seems to fit every occasion for which it was written. We doubt if there is another piece that could be used with such good effect in a church service."
The Concord Hymn has been recorded by numerous artists. One version was sung by John Philip Sousa's band during their concerts in 1936-37. Another version was recorded by Emerson himself for his album Poems and Songs from Many Lands (1938).
The Concord Hymn has been translated into many languages.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Concord Hymn" is a hymn or poetry about the first shot fired by the Minutemen in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1775. The song wonderfully describes the tumultuous period in American history when Americans fought the first battles against the British in the American Revolutionary War.
The poem was written as an ode to the town of Concord and its citizens for their support of the war effort. It also serves as an example of patriotic poetry written at the time. "Concord Hymn" was first published in 1821 in Poems by William Cullen Bryant.
Emerson wrote several other poems about the American Revolution including "Battle Hymn of the Republic", which later became the national anthem.
He also wrote "Old Ironsides", which is considered the official battle cry of the United States Navy.
Finally, he wrote a poem called "Thanatopsis", which is considered one of America's greatest death poems because of its depiction of death with all its sadness but also with some relief due to being freed from pain.
These are just some examples of poems written by Emerson during his lifetime. There are many more poems by him that can be found online.
He had a very influential opinion on Americans who wanted to write poetry.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Concord Hymn" is a four-stanza poem divided into groups of four lines, or quatrains. The poet has chosen a constant and repeated rhyme scheme to unite this composition. The stanzas are arranged in the following order: abab cdcd efef ghgh. Each stanza begins with a half title that provides important information about what will follow.
The first two lines announce that the speaker is from another place called "Concord". This other place is famous for its peaceful attitude toward religion. People there don't harm others because they believe it will bring them misfortune.
In the third stanza, the speaker tells us that he came to Massachusetts with the intention of preaching the gospel. But when he arrived, he found only darkness all around him. So he decided to go to Rhode Island instead. There he met many people who were willing to listen to his stories about India under the British rule. These people told him about "Concord", a town where everyone helped one another. Inspired by these people, the speaker decided to stay in Rhode Island and start a new life. He wanted to participate in this new society by working hard and giving back what he had received.
In the fourth stanza, we are again reminded that the speaker comes from another place called "Concord".
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