Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist

Subject: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,Infrequent but always polite guest
Date: 11 Aug 15 - 01:11 PM

It's probably too obscure even for mudcatters but does anyone have any information about a glee song called I am a Bold Democrat performed by Chartists in London in the first half of the 1840s?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Aug 15 - 02:10 PM

The Bodleian Library doesn't seem to have it. Where have you tried so far, and where did you hear about it?

"Democrat" was a rather unusual political label at the time, though I think it was possible.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,Infrequent but always polite guest
Date: 11 Aug 15 - 02:48 PM

It's mentioned in a report of a Chartist meeting but I don't have my source to hand and can't remember if the report was private correspondence or printed in a Chartist newspaper.

I tried the usual online resources for popular songs of that time: VWML, Bodleian, NLS, and of course google. I know that sometimes a different researcher will use differing search terms and receive a better response though so thank you for rechecking the Bod.

I'd guess it was a parody of a popular "I am a bold [something]" song of the time but the Chartists wrote original poems and songs regularly so my guess could be wrong.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,#
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 09:58 AM

http://historyandsocialaction.blogspot.ca/2013/01/what-amazing-man-william-cuffay-review.html

There's mention of it at that link.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,#
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 11:04 AM

" I was in a cursedly uncomfortable cell, without a bed. Mr. Keys was kind enough to lend me a pair of blankets. I spread them on a wooden bench — sung the "Democrat Bold" and the "Marselloise Hymn" by way of amusing myself — and then lay down, and slept soundly. "

Just wondering if it's a reference to the same song.

from the May 7 entry (at the end of the paragraph)

http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/travellers/Vincent/12

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,Infrequent but always polite guest
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 01:56 PM

Yes, #, William Cuffay was well known as a singer of Chartist songs, glees, and traditional songs, according to those who knew him and according to the Northern Star, which was a Chartist newspaper of the time:

http://cuffay.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/northern-star.html

That possible reference from Henry Vincent in 1839 is extremely interesting and I hadn't seen it before. Even if it's not an identical song, the use of the word "Democrat" connects them within the traditions of Chartist singing at the time. Thank you very much!

BTW anyone looking for pro-Chartist ballad sheets will do better online at the NLS than the Bodleian.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,Infrequent but always polite guest
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 02:05 PM

It occurs to me that Cuffay reputedly continued to sing after his transportation to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) which could also locate his songs within Tasmanian / Australian history too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,#
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 02:45 PM

Dear polite, would you be kind enough to explain what a 'glee' is?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,Infrequent but always polite guest
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 07:28 PM

From the Oxford English Dictionary entry for "glee": "A song for men's voices in three or more parts, usually unaccompanied, of a type popular especially circa 1750–1830."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,#
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 10:43 PM

The story to do with Chartists has been in Canadian schools mostly associated with Luddites and thus pshawed in our history books. I can recall only one or two mentions in first or second year university classes--usually associated with Luddites--and so this thread has been an eye-opener for me. I thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am a Bold Democrat, 1840s, UK Chartist
From: GUEST,Infrequent but always polite guest
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 06:58 AM

You're welcome #. Those of us who live in parliamentary democracies owe a lot of our voting rights to the political campaigning of the Chartists, and I think that's worth singing about.