Chellam Sundaram
US History Hnrs
Yankee Doodle and The Liberty Song
Music during the American Revolution was a way of expressing feelings, boosting moral, and forgetting about the terrible consequences of war. Some songs were sung to inspire unity and bravery, while others were sung to mock the opposing side. Music proved to be a powerful tool that made an impact on all sorts of people during the Revolution. The songs “Yankee Doodle” and “Liberty Song” were both tunes that greatly affected the hearts of the American people during the American War of Independence, albeit in different ways. They share many similarities in tone and in eventual usage by people, but differ greatly in meaning and background.
“Yankee Doodle” was a …show more content…
Composed shortly after the effectuation of the Townshend Acts, the tune is regarded as America’s first patriotic song. It was musically based off of a British composition, “Heart Of Oak”. The lyrics embody several themes of the American Revolution. “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,” The song opens with a call to unity, for the colonists to think of themselves as people who lived in “America”, and not their separate colonies. It also shows opposition for the taxation and other acts that the British were passing that hurt America. “In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed/For Heaven approves of each generous deed.” These lines show some of the religious view that America had on the war. Many revolutionaries believed that God was in agreement of actions against the British. Though most of the public views it as a song of pure patriotism, the opposite is shown on closer view of the lyrics. “This bumper I crown for our Sovereign 's health,/And this for Britannia 's glory and wealth;/That wealth and that glory immortal may be,/If she is but just---and if we are but free.” These lines that close the song encourage Americans to toast to the health of the King, but also threatens for the fall of British glory and immortality if America does not become free (of taxes and limits on trade). Along with this, the historical evidence of John Dickinson refusing to sign the Declaration of independence shows his hope for reconciliation with the British. This shows another view that some of the American people had and reveals the true complexity of the
US History Hnrs
Yankee Doodle and The Liberty Song
Music during the American Revolution was a way of expressing feelings, boosting moral, and forgetting about the terrible consequences of war. Some songs were sung to inspire unity and bravery, while others were sung to mock the opposing side. Music proved to be a powerful tool that made an impact on all sorts of people during the Revolution. The songs “Yankee Doodle” and “Liberty Song” were both tunes that greatly affected the hearts of the American people during the American War of Independence, albeit in different ways. They share many similarities in tone and in eventual usage by people, but differ greatly in meaning and background.
“Yankee Doodle” was a …show more content…
Composed shortly after the effectuation of the Townshend Acts, the tune is regarded as America’s first patriotic song. It was musically based off of a British composition, “Heart Of Oak”. The lyrics embody several themes of the American Revolution. “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,” The song opens with a call to unity, for the colonists to think of themselves as people who lived in “America”, and not their separate colonies. It also shows opposition for the taxation and other acts that the British were passing that hurt America. “In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed/For Heaven approves of each generous deed.” These lines show some of the religious view that America had on the war. Many revolutionaries believed that God was in agreement of actions against the British. Though most of the public views it as a song of pure patriotism, the opposite is shown on closer view of the lyrics. “This bumper I crown for our Sovereign 's health,/And this for Britannia 's glory and wealth;/That wealth and that glory immortal may be,/If she is but just---and if we are but free.” These lines that close the song encourage Americans to toast to the health of the King, but also threatens for the fall of British glory and immortality if America does not become free (of taxes and limits on trade). Along with this, the historical evidence of John Dickinson refusing to sign the Declaration of independence shows his hope for reconciliation with the British. This shows another view that some of the American people had and reveals the true complexity of the