Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war

Subject: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: musicmick
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 05:04 PM

I am starting a recording project illustrating American History through songs. I'm ok, I think, with material from the early 19th century but I'm a little weak on 1750- 1820. I need a source or two that will provide melody, lyrics and background for that period. I could go to the Library of Congress, of course, but I know that there must be a more convenient route. You Mudcatters have never failed me and I am so sure that you will come up with swell suggestions again that I thank you now as I will thank you later.

                Mike Miller

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 09:17 PM

I have an excellent old 10 inch LP, from Folkways, with a guy named Wallace House singing. I'll get into it and get some lyrics for you.

Now how we work the tunes is another problem. I guess I could sing them and make an MP3 for you.   

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 09:42 PM

Revolutionary Tea

When I First Came to this Land

Sow Took the Measles

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Ferrara
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 10:42 PM

Can you get hold of the Burl Ives songbook? He's got a very nice section on that period, great songs & lots of background.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 10:52 PM

Mike--
Try a Digitrad search for @revolution
Then try one for #1812

There's lots.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: musicmick
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 02:32 AM

My gratitude knows no bounds nor leaps.
Uncle Dave, any help would be grand. You can use the same mailing address as you used to send me your CD for review.
Ferrara, I used to own a paperback copy of Burl Ives (which, in respect to my leftist chevra, I read covertly). It is long gone, of course, but I'm sure that the library has a copy. It was a classic.
Dick, I'll try to do as you suggest but, knowing my ineptitude with this overblown typewriter, you can expect a frantic call. Remember, I know where you live.
Bev and Jerry, I will click onto those blue things as soon as I finish this thank you note.
I guess I just did.

                        Mike

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: cetmst
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 01:54 PM

Old North Bridge Records of Concord MA published LP's in the 1970's:
REVOLUTIONARY TEA
The Yankees Rerurn from Camp (Yankee Doodle)
Revolutionary Tea
Bunker Hill
The Battle of Trenton
Lamentation Over Boston (William Billings)
Derry Down
Free America
Siubhail a Gradh
Doodle Dandy
Cherster
Banks of the Dee
An Irishman's Epistle
The Fate of John Burgoyne

GRAND MUSICK
White Cockade
British Grenadiers
Olde Saybrooke
Rakes of Mallow
Grandfather's Clock
La Belle Catheerine
Slow Scotch
Garry Owen
Wrecker's Daughter
Welcome Here Again
Duke of York's March
Yankee Doodle
Sisters
Road to Boston
Green Cockade
The Harriett
Katy Hill
Rose Tree
The Girl I Left Behind Me

AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN (Wm Billings, Oliver Holden, Jeremiah Ingalls)
Chester
O God, My Heart Is Fixed
Son of Zion, Come Before Him
How Long Dear Savior, O How Long
Boston
Charity
Heavenly Vision
Majesty
David's Lamentation
Coronation
Confidence
Thus Saith the High, the Lofty One
Child of Mortality

Also SONGS OF REBELS AND REDCOATS, National Geographic Society
Fish and Tea
In the Good Old Colony Days
Fare Thee Well, Sweethearts
The Yankee Privateer
One Morning in May
Billy Broke Locks
Barbara Allen
The Green Mountaineer
Yankee Doodle
The Little Sergeant
The Balld of Trenton
The Deserter
An American Frigate
The Balld of Donald Monroe
The Girl I Left Behind Me
Marion's Men
The Old Soldiers of the King
The World Turned Upside Down

CD MUSIC OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: THE BIRTH OF LIBETY,
New World Records:
The Brickmaker March
Lamentation over Boston (Billings)
March for the 3rd Regiment of Foot, Lord Amherst's
British Grenadiers
General Scott's March
Junto Song
Lovely Nancy
Amrican Vicar of Bray
March of the 35th Regiment
Liberty Song
Parody on a Well-Known Liberty Song
March for the 76th Regiment
Warren
Stone Grinds All
The King's Own Regulars
Washington's March
A Hymn of Peace

VERMONT BALLADS AND BROADSIDES, Margaret MacArthur
The Marlboro Medley
Ballad of Runaway Pond
Ballad of Pudding Hill
Ballad of Devil's Hill
Incidents in the History of Vermont
Margery Grey
The Legend of Duncan Campbell
The Song of the Veermonters 1777
The Banks of Champlain (in the Digitrad)
Hugh Williams
The Pucker Street Song
The West Rutland Marble Bawn
In Sugarin' Time



There are several recordings of the music of William Billings who much religious, secular and patriotic music.


I have several other recordings of colonial music if you are interested but for now my wife and dog are clamoring to get out of the house. - Charles

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: musicmick
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 02:04 PM

Yes, Charles, I am very interested. My regards to your spouse and your pooch.

                   Mike

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 02:34 PM

A number of songs listed on the Old North Bridge lps' list are not of the period. The National Geographic Society List is good.
Some titles can lead to wrong songs- The "Lovely Nancy" of the period is the one called "Cupid's Garden" in The Traditional Ballad Index.

Not easy to get a 'pure" period list without good references.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: GUEST,Charmion at work
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 02:41 PM

You must not overlook "The Chesapeake and the Shannon", a fairly accurate account of an 1812 naval battle that (ahem) the British frigate won. Check Volume I of "Folksongs of Canada" by Edith Fowke and Alan Mills.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 02:51 PM

Or, if you favor the rebels, you shouldn't ovelook the Constitution and the Guerriere, to the same tune (I forget which came first).) The tune, BTW, is called "The Landlady of France", and achieved some recent popularity when used for "The Bonny Lass of Fyvie-O"

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 03:42 PM

Geoff Kaufman, of Mystic Seaport Museum,has released an excellent CD called "Huzza Old Ironsides!: Her Life and Times In Song." These are early American songs of the ship and the war of 1812. Great Americana! Smithsonian Folkways has "Colonial and Revolutionary War Chanteys and Sea Songs," sung by Cliff Haslam and Jon Millar (mostly sea songs, w/ one or two true chanteys).Try Mudcatter Dick Greenhaus at CAMSCO for ordering.

Try www.bookfinder.com for the out-of-print "Songs of the Redcoats." That site is great for finding rare books! They search many sources, and list everything they find, w/ prices, description of the books condition, etc., and you can buy them online through their site, or they'll send you to the individual bookseller's own site.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Edain
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 03:56 PM

Two songs of the 1812 war from the Canadian band Tanglefoot

Commadore's Compliments - http://www.tanglefootmusic.com/records/lyrics/agnes_on_the_cowcatcher.htm

Secord's Warning - http://www.tanglefootmusic.com/records/lyrics/music_in_the_wood.htm

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 181
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 04:04 PM

Constitution and the Guerriere, Chesapeake and Shannon, and the Battle of New Orleans take care of the 1812 war pretty well, I reckon.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 09:07 PM

I got the Wallace House LP out, and here are the songs on it:

The British Light Infantry
The Toast (also known as 'Tis Washington's Health)
Sergeant Champe
The Yankee Man of War (also known as The Stately Southerner, or Paul Jones Privateer or The Ranger)
Cornwallis Burgoyned
The Dying Sergeant (also known as The Dying British Sergeant)
Chester
Mad Anthony Wayne

I also have, on another old LP, Jefferson and Liberty

I don't have time now, but I'll try to get into this this weekend, and post lyrics. And I'll soon sing some or all of the above for you on MP3. Probably won't be of premium quality, but enough to give you the tune(s).

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: Lyr Add: The Toast (Washington's Health)
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 10:06 PM

THE TOAST

'Tis Washington's health! Fill a bumper around,
For he is our glory and pride.
'Tis Washington's health! Fill a bumper around,
For he is our glory and pride.
Our arms shall in battle with conquest be crowned
While virtue and he's on our side
Our Arms shall in battle with conquest be crowned
Whilst virtue and he's on our si-i-i-de
And he's on our side!

'Tis Washington's health! Loud cannons should roar
And trumpets the truth should proclaim. (2x)
There cannot be found, search all the world o'er
His equal in virtue and fame (2x)
In vi-i-irtue and fame!

'Tis Washington's health! Our hero to bless
May heaven look graciously down (2x)
Oh, long may he live, our hearts to possess
And freedom still call him her own (2x)
Still ca-a-a-all him her own!

From the singing of Wallace House, Ballads of the Revolution, Folkways Records, 1953
DRO

Subject: Lyr Add: Mad Anthony Wayne
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 10:28 PM

MAD ANTHONY WAYNE

His sword blade gleams, and his eye light beams,
And never glanced either in vain,
Like the ocean tide, straight ahead he rides,
The fearless Mad Anthony Wayne!

Bang! Bang! the rifles go!
Down falls the startled foe!
Bang! Bang! the rifles go!
Down falls the startled foe!
And many a redcoat here tonight,
The Continentals scorning,
Shall never meet the blaze of the broad sunlight
That shines on tomorrow morning!

Was e'er a chief of his speech so brief
Who uttered his wishes so plain?
E'er he speaks a word, his orders are heard
From the eyes of Mad Anthony Wayne!

Aim! Fire! exclaim his eyes!
Bang! Bang! each gun replies!
Aim! Fire! exclaim his eyes!
Bang! Bang! each gun replies!
And many a redcoat here tonight,
The Continentals scorning,

Shall never meet the blaze of the broad sunlight
That shines on tomorrow morning!

It is best to fall at our country's call
If we must leave this lifetime of pain.
And who would shrink from the perilous brink
When led by Mad Anthony Wayne?

Ran, Tan! the bugles sound!
Our forces fill the ground!
Ran, Tan! the bugles sound!
Our forces fill the ground!
And many a redcoat here tonight,
The Continentals scorning,
Shall never meet the blaze of the broad sunlight
That shines on tomorrow morning!

Let them form their ranks in firm phalanx;
It will melt at our rife-ball rain!
Every shot must tell on a redcoat well,
If we anger Mad Anthony Wayne!

Tramp, tramp, away they go!
Now retreats the beaten foe!
Tramp, tramp, away they go!
Now retreats the beaten foe!
And many a redcoat here tonight,
The Continentals scorning,
Shall never meet the blaze of the broad sunlight
That shines on tomorrow morning!

And many a redcoat here tonight,
The Continentals scorning,
Shall never meet the blaze of the broad sunlight
That shines on tomorrow morning!

From the signing of Wallace House, Ballads of the Revolution, Folkways Records, 1953.
DRO

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: cetmst
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 12:41 PM

Look at the Colonial Music Institute of David and Ginger Hildebrand - www.colonialmusic.org and www.colonialmusic.org/d&gstud.htm

Don't overlook the Barbary War - variants of High Barbaree

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation issued an album "Songs of Liberty." I have the cassette but can't find a date on it:
God Save the Thirteen States
A Toast
Washington's March
Successful Campaign
Brandywine Quick-Step
Liberty Song
What a Court Hath Old England
Free America
David's Lamentation
Chester
Retrospect
The Battle of Trenton
Beneath a Weeping Willow's Shade
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
The American Hero
My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free
Cornwallis Country Dance
Cornwallis Burgoyned
Adams and Liberty
Anacreontic Song
Star Spangled Banner

Liner notes quote a General Order from Headquarters, Middle-Brook, June 4, 1777:
The music of the army being in general vry bad, it is expected that the drum and fife Majors exert themselves to improve it, or they will be reduced, and their extraordinary pay taken from them. Stated hours to be assigned, for all the drums and fifes, of each regiment, to attend them and practice - nothing is more agreeable, and ornamental, than good music; every officer, for the credit of the corps, should take care to provide it.

Abridged liner notes:
George Washington was no musician. In a letter to Francis Hopkinson he wrote "...I can neither sing... nor raise a single note on any instrument." Yet he knew the value of music to an army that functioned by duty calls of fifes and drums. From frequent attendance at theaters and concerts, he also appreciated music's "agreeable and ornamental" qualities. He especially enjoyed dancing and proposed the following toast at the Philadelphia Dancing Assembly on his birthday, February 22, 1797, "May the members thereof and the Fair who honor it with their presence long continue in the enjoyment of an amusement so innocent and agreeable." At another ball at Newport in 1781, he danced the first number with one of the reigning belles, after which "...the French officers took the instruments from the hands of their musicians, and flourished the opening strains of 'Successful Campaign'..."
Much music was expressly written and dedicated to the man "first in the hearts of his countrymen." Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence, frequent holder of public office in Philadelphia and New Jersey, writer, inventor and talented musician, may have initiated the practice with 'A Toast' the words of which were first printed in the 'Pennsylvania Packet' in 1778. Often credited as the composer of 'Washington's March', he wrote 'Seven Songs' for Washington in 1788. James Hewitt's descriptive 'The Battle of Trenton' bears the subtitle ' A Favorite Historical Military Sonata Dedicated to General Washington."
The enthusiasm for liberty in the New World brought forth an outburst of creative activity among the patriots. Often new words were created for familiar melodies. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania wrote his 'Liberty Song' to the sturdy tune 'Hearts of Oak' which originally praised the virtues of the British Navy. He sent it to James Otis of Massachusetts with the note, "I enclose you a song of American freedom. I have long renounced poetry, but, as indifferent songs are very powerful on certain occasions, I venture to invoke the muse." So 'What a Court Hath Old England' is set to a well-known English jig, 'Free America' to the redoutable 'British Grenadiers' and 'God Save the Thirteen States' to a song destined to become the British National Anthem. The words of the 'Thirteen States' are supposed to have been written by a Dutch lady at The Hague for American sailors in June , 1779.
With his warlike hymn 'Chester' the zealous New Englander William Bilings captures the spirit of the Sons of Liberty. His anthem 'Retrospect', however, conveys with greater meaning the horrors of war and the joys of peace. Ever concerned with emotion, he exclaims "That I am a musical enthusiast I readily grant....Great art thou O MUSIC! and with thee there is no competitor....Thou art like pure love...Therefore thou art like Heaven and Heaven is like Thee..."
Hewitt's 'The Battle of Trenton' reflects reflects the vogue for military pieces in both America and Europe (Some descriptive passages omitted - CET). The inclusion of the Scottish dirge 'Roslin Castle' lends a poignancy to this flamboyant sonata.
'My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free' is an early Hopkinson song (1759) copied in his manuscript book, while 'Beneath a Weeping Willow's Shade' comes from the 'Seven Songs' of 1788. The folk song 'Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier' dates from Revolutionary days but was revived during the Civil War. Another Yankee tunesmith, Andrew Law, set 'The American Hero' to a poem describing the Battle of Bunker Hill. 'Cornwallis Country Dance' to the tune of 'Yankee Doodle' describes General Greene's harassment of the British in the Carolinas in satiric dance terminology, while 'Cornwallis Burgoyned' recalls the Yorktown surrender.
Three versions of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' provide the finale: the patriotic 'Adams and Liberty' (1798), the even earlier song of good fellowship 'The Anacreontic Song' (1779?), and finally the 1814 version with Francis Scott Key's text. All employ compekking rhythms and faster tempos than are customary today.

Subject: Lyr Add: Sergeant Champe
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 02:17 PM

SERGEANT CHAMPE

Come sheathe your swords, my gallant boys,
And listen to my story.
How Sergeant Champe, one gloomy night,
Set out to catch the Tory.

You see, the General had got mad
To think his plans were thwarted
And swore by all, both good and bad,
That Arnold should be caughted.

So unto Lee he sent a line
And told him of his sorrow
And said that he must start the hunt
Before the coming morrow.

Lee found a sergeant in his camp
Made up of bone and muscle
Who ne'er you fear and many a year
With Tories had a tussle.

Bold Champe, when mounted on old Rip,
All buttoned up from weather,
Sang out, "Good-bye," cracked off his whip,
And soon was in the heather.

He galloped on towards Paulus Hook,
Improving every instant,
Until a patrol, wide awake,
Descried him in the distance.

The sergeant missed 'em by good luck,
And took another tracing,
He turned his horse from Paulus Hook,
Elizabethtown facing.

It was the custom of Sir Hal
To send his galleys cruising,
And so it happened just then
That two were at Van Duesen.

And so it happened that brave Champe
Unto Sir Hal deserted,
Deceiving him, and you, and me,
And into York was flirted.

He saw base Arnold in his camp,
Surrounded by the legion,
And told him of the recent prank
That threw him in that region.

Then Arnold grinned and rubbed his hands
And e'enmost choked with pleasure,
Not thinking Champe was all the while
A-taking of his measure.

Base Arnold's head by luck was saved;
Poor Andre's was gibbeted.
Arnold's to blame for Andre's fame,
And Andre's to be pitied.

To the tune of Barbara Allen.

From the singing of Wallace House, Ballads of the Revolution, Folkways Records, 1953.
DRO

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: Dani
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 02:23 PM

Hey, how come no one writes this stuff anymore?

I was reading a Jack Aubrey book, and the officer's mess entertained themselves and each other writing poetry!

Surely the ins ands outs, good and bad of war and military service and the homfront haven't changed that much, at their core. Where did the music go?

Hard to imagine any of this in the military I know....

Dani

Subject: Lyr Add: Cornwallis Burgoyned
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 02:38 PM

Cornwallis Burgoyned

When British troops first landed here,
With Howe commander o'er them
They thought to make us quake with fear
And carry all before them.
With thirty thousand men or more,
And she without assistance,
America must needs give o'er
And make no more resistance.

But Washington, her glorious son,
Of British hosts the terror,
Soon by repeated overthrows
Convinced them of their error.
Let Princeton and let Trenton tell
What gallant deeds he done, sir,
And Monmouth's plains, where hundreds fell,
And thousands more have run, sir!

Cornwallis, too, when he approached
Virginia's Old Dominion,
Thought he would soon her conq'ror be
And so was North's opinion
From state to state, with rapid stride,
His troops had marched before, sir,
Till, quite elate with martial pride,
He thought his dangers o'er, sir.

But our allies, to his surprise,
The Chesapeake had entered,
And now too late he cast his fate
And wished he ne'er had ventured,
For Washington no sooner knew
The visit he had paid her
Than to his parent state he flew
To crush the bold invader.

When he sat down before the town,
His Lordship soon surrendered.
His martial pride was laid aside,
And cased the British standard.
Gods, how this stroke will North provoke,
And all his thoughts confuse, sir!
And how the peers will hang their ears
When first they hear the news, sir!

Be Peace, the glorious end of War,
By this event effected,
And be the name of Washington
To latest times respected.
Then let us toast America,
And France in union with her,
And may Great Britain rue the day
Her hostile bairns came hither.

From the singing of Wallace House, Ballads of the Revolution, Folkways Records, 1953.
DRO

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 02:47 PM

As advertised, I've posted the words to a number of the songs on the Wallace House Folkways LP, Ballads of the Revolution.

I confess that there are more songs there that I haven't posted here, to wit:
The Dying Sergeant
The British Light Infantry
Chester   and
The Yankee Man of War

However, those four are all in the DT, with MIDIs, and/or well known otherwise.

Mike Miller, I have misplaced your snail mail address. If you'll PM me with it, I'll send to you the tunes to these I've posted. More's the pity, I am not able to make MIDIs for them.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: belter
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 03:08 PM

Besides the ones Edain mentioned, Taglefoot has several songs about that time period from a Canadian pov.

"Fire and Guns" from their album Saturday Nihgt in Hardwood Lake

From A Gain of Salt, "Secord's Warning"

There may be others

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: Jimmy Twitcher
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 04:04 PM

Don't forget "Ye Gentlemen of England" and "Hunters of Kentucky."

Someone mentioned "Battle of New Orleans," but that is not period. If you want contemporary songs about the period, try "Blacksmith of Brandywine," a moving song about a completely invented incident.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 03:54 PM

Dani, you asked why they don't write 'em like that any more in the services (or out, for that matter).

Several reasons, as I see it.

Of course first to mind is that radio, TV, and the recorded media have convinced most of the population that songs or music are divinely decreed to come pre-done, by godlike creatures called media stars, and that people doing music for themselves are an oddity.

Poetry, of course, is not something done by real men (or women), but only by highbrow ivory-tower poets, who have no relation to real life, and are somewhat suspect, anyway, for their presumptive politics and sexual orientation. Poetry is not manly, much less warriorlike.

In the time of these songs, the 18th century, the largest, most available source of entertainment was other people. Sitting in the pub, the call would go out, "John, have you got a song for us?" And John would oblige--and if he did a good job, might well expect to have a pint of something good provided to him.

Also, in the time of these songs, a great deal of the news of the day was passed around in the form of songs or poems. See Sergeant Champe, above, as an example. It's a true incident, where Benedict Arnold was almost captured, but was taken away too soon by the British, who hanged Major Andre, who had been ratted out by Arnold.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812 war
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 08:53 PM

My personal favorite from the 1812 period is "Roast Beef of Old England" by Jerry Bryant & Starboad Mess. It features my favorite Charles Dibdin song "Ben Backstay", with "Don't Forget Your Old Shipmate" and others. Details here

>;-(
(It's a Wincing Devil, Get it?!?)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 11:16 PM

I would tentatively suggest 'Farewell to Nova Scotia'

Halifax, Nova Scotia was used by the Royal Navy as a base of operations in the war of 1812. The wording in the song suggests a local man serving in the RN at that time.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need songs of Revolutionary and 1812
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 16 Jan 05 - 01:15 PM

Ditto on Jerry Bryant!