Songs and Ballads

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 Broadway

London: 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

THE PRESENT AGE

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.

Mountain Fifes and Drums
A great group from Southern California

Music of the 18th Century
(The D Major Singers)

More Music of the 18th Century - The Contemplator

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.

Field Music of the Revolution

McNeil Music

Learn to Play the Fife

Fife and Drum Manufactory - Cooperman

The Itinerant Band

Wireharp Productions


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