The ‘feel-good words’ of pop rock… The ‘my wife left me lyric’ from classic country… the ‘sorrow filled words’ of blues… Since the beginning of music, lyrics of songs have reflected the attitude and culture of the time in which they were written. This is especially true in times of difficulty and war. During the Revolutionary War era, songs were more than just ‘music’, they were written, and sung, to make a statement. There were many songs written at this time which expressed how Americans felt about what was happening in the country. Three themes can be found in the songs written: songs which mocked the enemy, songs which helped people forget the reality of the war, and songs which celebrated the freedom America desired. As America
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One of the earliest examples of a patriotic song was published in the Boston Gazette in July, 1768, nine years before the United States of America would officially declare its Independence. “The Liberty Song” was penned by John Dickinson. He wrote the words to fit the famous music of the anthem of the British Royal Navy, "Heart of Oak," composed in 1759 by Dr. William Boyce (1711-1779). (dickinson.edu). The first stanza has strong words describing freedom and liberty. “Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all/ And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call/ No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim/ Or stain with dishonor America's name/ In Freedom we're born and in Freedom we'll live/ Our purses are ready. Steady, friends, steady/ Not as slaves, but as Freemen our money we'll give.” (contemplator.com).
Another example of a song about freedom is Free America written by Dr. Joseph Warren. In this song, the stanza reads “Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah, huzzah for brave America!” (constitution.org) The word “huzzah” is like today’s word “hooray”. We use “hooray” for times when something goes the way we want it to go. When the early Americans used “huzzah” it basically meant that they got what they wanted. Instead of using “huzzah” the lyric today would be the chant “USA, USA, USA!” The repetition of “huzzah” shows how exuberant these Americans were about becoming their own
One of the earliest examples of a patriotic song was published in the Boston Gazette in July, 1768, nine years before the United States of America would officially declare its Independence. “The Liberty Song” was penned by John Dickinson. He wrote the words to fit the famous music of the anthem of the British Royal Navy, "Heart of Oak," composed in 1759 by Dr. William Boyce (1711-1779). (dickinson.edu). The first stanza has strong words describing freedom and liberty. “Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all/ And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call/ No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim/ Or stain with dishonor America's name/ In Freedom we're born and in Freedom we'll live/ Our purses are ready. Steady, friends, steady/ Not as slaves, but as Freemen our money we'll give.” (contemplator.com).
Another example of a song about freedom is Free America written by Dr. Joseph Warren. In this song, the stanza reads “Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah, huzzah for brave America!” (constitution.org) The word “huzzah” is like today’s word “hooray”. We use “hooray” for times when something goes the way we want it to go. When the early Americans used “huzzah” it basically meant that they got what they wanted. Instead of using “huzzah” the lyric today would be the chant “USA, USA, USA!” The repetition of “huzzah” shows how exuberant these Americans were about becoming their own