Yankee%20Doodle

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Yankee Doodle
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Yankee Doodle is one of the most popular American
patriotic songs. However, despite its
popularity, it started out as a song that made
fun of American troops.
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British Origins The origins of Yankee Doodle
lie in old English folk music. The song emerged
before the American Revolution as a way for the
British to make fun of American soldiers.
Yankee began as a put down of Americans.
Doodle was a put down meaning fool or
simpleton.
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American Revolution As the American soldiers
began winning over the British in the Revolution,
they began singing the song as a sort of anthem
taunting their enemies. One of the earliest
references to the song was in 1767 opera The
Disappointment, and a printed version dates back
to 1775.
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American Version While the exact origins of the
tune and original lyrics are unknown, most
historians believe that the American version was
written by an English doctor named Dr. Shackburg.
According to the Library of Congress, Shackburg
wrote the lyrics in 1755.
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Civil War Throughout the early history of the
United States, the lyrics were rewritten to make
fun of various groups. For example, two versions
were written during the Civil war, one making fun
of the South and another making fun of the North.
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Present Yankee Doodle has become a symbol of
American pride. The melody has been adapted and
performed in every imaginable musical style. At
present, it is considered a childrens song where
very few know all the verses to the song.
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Yankee Doodle Yankee Doodle went to town Just to
ride a pony Stuck a feather in his cap And called
it macaroni Yankee doodle, keep it up Yankee
doodle dandy Mind the music and the step And with
the girls be handy.
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Yankee Doodle Father and I went down to
camp Along with Captain Gooding And there we saw
the men and boys As thick as hasty pudding.
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Yankee Doodle There was Captain Washington Upon
a slapping stallion A-giving orders to his men I
guess there was a million.
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Yankee Doodle And then the feathers on his
hat They looked so tarnal fin-a I wanted pockily
to get To give to my Jemima.
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Yankee Doodle And then we saw a swamping
gun Large as a log of maple Upon a deuced little
cart A load for fathers cattle.
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Yankee Doodle And every time they shoot it
off It takes a horn of powder It makes a noise
like fathers gun Only a nation louder.
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Yankee Doodle I went as nigh to one myself As
Siahs underpinning And father went as nigh
agin I thought the deuce was in him. We saw a
little barrel, too The heads were made of
leather They knocked upon it with little
clubs And called the folks together.
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Yankee Doodle And there theyd fife away like
fun And play on cornstalk fiddles And some had
ribbons red as blood All bound around their
middles. The troopers, too, would gallop up And
fire right in our faces It scared me almost to
death To see them run such races.
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Yankee Doodle Uncle Sam came there to
change Some pancakes and some onions For lasses
cake to carry home To give his wife and young
ones.
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Yankee Doodle But I cant tell half I see They
kept up such a smother So I took my hat off, made
a bow And scampered home to mother.
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Yankee Doodle Cousin Simon grew so bold I
thought he would have cocked it It scared me so I
streaked it off And hung by fathers pocket.
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Yankee Doodle And there I saw a pumpkin shell As
big as mothers basin And every time they touched
it off They scampered like the nation.
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Yankee Doodle And there was Captain
Washington, With gentlefolks about him, They say
hes gown so tarnal proud He will not ride
without them.
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Yankee Doodle There came Genral Washington Upon
a snow-white charger He looked as big as all
outdoors And thought that he was larger.