AMERICANREVOLUTION.ORG Songs and Ballads
of the
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
with notes and illustrations
by
FRANK MOORE"More solid things do not shew the complexion of the Times so well, as Ballads and Libels." Belden.
New York:
D. Appleton & Company, 346 & 348 BroadwayLondon: 16 Little Britain MDCCCLVI ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by D. Appleton & Company, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York PREFACE THIS volume presents a selection from the numerous productions in verse, which appeared during the war of the American Revolution. Many of them are taken from the newspapers and periodical issues of the time; others from original balladsheets and broadsides; while some have been received from the recollections of a few surviving soldiers, who heard and sang them amid the trials of the camp and field.
Nearly every company had its "smart one" or poet, who beguiled the weariness of the march or the encampment by his minstrelsy, grave or gay; and the imperfect fragments which survive to us, provoke our regret that so few of them have been preserved.
All that we can claim for the writers of these songs, is a manifest spirit of devotion to the cause, and defiance to its enemies. The poesy of their productions is meagre. They did not write for fame; but, in the language of one of the most honest and homely of them, "from a great desire to state the truth, and their opinion of it, in a quiet way, just set their poetical lathes a-turning, and twisted out ballads and songs for the good of the common cause."
In the compilation of this work, a few pieces have been included which do not strictly belong to the class of songs or ballads; as in the case of the "Stamp Act Repeal," "Gentle Shepherd," "Burgoyne's Overthrow," etc.; but their spirit and pertinency will, it is believed, justify their position as illustrative of the times and events to which they relate, in common with the other material of the work. The brief notes and illustrations to the different pieces in the collection which have been introduced, are intended to give, as far as practicable, accounts of their authorship, and to explain some of the more obscure allusions of the writers.
In conclusion the Editor acknowledges his obligations to the libraries of the New York Historical Society, of Yale College and Brown University, and especially to the officers of these institutions, for the facility with which he has been enabled to make use of their valuable collections. To Mr. J. CARTER BROWN of Providence, R. I., for access to his rich and unique collection on American history. To Col. PETER FORCE of Washington, for valuable aid - and suggestions. To Mr. E. B. CORWIN of New York, and the Rev. Dr. R. W. GRISWOLD for similar favors - and though last, not least, for ready assistance and encouragement, to his brother, Mr. GEORGE H. MOORE, Librarian of the New York Historical Society.
New York, December, 1855.
CONTENTS: TAXATION OF AMERICA LIBERTY TREE STAMP ACT REPEAL THE GENTLE SHEPHERD THE OLD WOMAN TAUGHT WISDOM THE LIBERTY SONG A PARODY UPON A WELL-KNOWN LIBERTY SONG THE PARODY PARODIZED TO THE LADIES CASTLE ISLAND SONG THE TAXED TEA VIRGINIA BANISHING TEA THE BLASTED HERB GAGE'S PROCLAMATION MARYLAND RESOLVES LOYAL YORK BANKS OF THE DEE A PARODY ON THE "BANKS OF THE DEE" LIBERTY'S CALL ALPHABET FOR LITTLE MASTERS AND MISSES THE PENNSYLVANIA SONG THE IRISHMAN'S EPISTLE TO THE TROOPS IN BOSTON THE BURNING OF CHARLESTOWN TRIP TO CAMBRIDGE AMERICAN HEARTS OF OAK FISH AND TEA - A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE THE TIMES COLLINET AND PHEBE WAR SONG A SONG OFF FROM BOSTON A COMMON PRAYER FOR THE TIMES BURROWING YANKEES NATHAN HALE SULLIVAN'S ISLAND - A NEW WAR SONG INDEPENDENCE TO THE COMMONS ON INDEPENDENCE A BALLAD BATTLE OF TRENTON THE HEADS, OR THE YEAR 1776 THE JERSEYS; A PARODY THE PROPHETIC EGG TO BRITAIN GENERAL SULLIVAN'S SONG BURGOYNE'S PROCLAMATION SARATOGA SONG THE FATE OF JOHN BURGOYNE BURGOYNE'S OVERTHROW THE GAMESTER THE REBELS THE HALCYON DAYS OF OLD ENGLAND BRITISH LIGHT INFANTRY THE OLD MAN'S SONG BATTLE OF THE KEGS THE EPILOGUE TO WASHINGTON; FROM THE BRITISH LIGHT INFANTRY AN AFFAIR OF HONOR YANKEE DOODLE'S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND A FABLE CHESTER; A HYMN LORD NORTH'S RECANTATION A PROPHECY GEORGE THE THIRD'S SOLILOQUY A SONG THE PRESENT AGE SIR HENRY CLINTON'S INVITATION TO THE REFUGEES A NEW BALLAD THE ETIQUETTE SIEGE OF SAVANNAH A NEW SONG THE RECESS DUTCH SONG VOLUNTEER BOYS AN APPEAL SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON OUR WOMEN THE COW CHACE BRAVE PAULDING AND THE SPY SERGEANT CHAMPE TO THE TRAITOR ARNOLD BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1781 THE SOLDIER AT HOME DESCENT ON MIDDLESEX THE DANCE CORNWALLIS BURGOYNED THE SOUTH CAROLINA THANKSGIVING HYMN A FRAGMENT A SONNET ON DISBANDING THE ARMY
Other 18th Century Music Websites 18th Century Songbook Clio and Euterpe
(another 18th century songbook)Colonial Music Institute The Music Of The 1770s: A Directory
This site has a list of some of the songs which were popular prior to and during the American Revolutionary War period. The songs are presented in greater detail on the linked pages. Midi files are included for some songs.
Hauley Music
Reproductions of 18th & 19th century musical items i.e. fifes, drums, recorders, folk instruments. Also copies of many 18th & 19th c. music books & manuscripts plus C.D.s, tapes & more.
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