The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #71054   Message #1213364
Posted By: alanabit
24-Jun-04 - 03:19 AM
Thread Name: War Mongering Songs
Subject: RE: War Mongering Songs
Unfortunately there are plenty of songs urging war. I believe the term "jingoism" goes back to a broadsheet ditty which stirred up British passions as the Crimean War was getting under way. The song I am referring to may be called, "By Jingo", but I have no desire to dig it out or read its rabble rousing sentiments again.
I have always thought that "Four Green Fields" and "The Minstrel Boy" also glorify war. The English seem to like songs like "Rule Britannia" and "The British Grenadier". I always cringe when I hear that crass line in "Hearts of Oak" which goes, "For who are as free as the sons of the waves?" The truth was that those men were mainly brutally treated slaves.
I am sad to say that this could be a very long thread.