Tune Req: Mechanic's Song by Ben Franklin?

Subject: Tune Req: Mechanic's Song by Ben Franklin?
From: BenTraverse
Date: 05 Apr 24 - 11:24 AM

Howdy, Mudcatters!

I was flipping through the United States Songster (1838) and found a song titled "Mechanic's Song" that was supposedly written by Benjamin Franklin for the Procession of Trades in Philadelphia in 1788. It has also been attributed to Andrew Adgate under the pseudonym Absalom Aimwell, Esq.

Here are the lyrics as included in a lecture given by Adgate in 1793:

MECHANIC'S SONG
(Ben Franklin?)

Ye merry MECHANICS! come join in my song
And let the brisk chorus come bounding along
Tho' some may be poor, and some rich there may be
Yet all are contended and happy and free
Happy and free, happy and free
Yet all are contented and happy and free

Ye TAYLORS! [sic] of ancient and noble renown
Who clothe all the people in country and town
Remember that Adam your father and head
Tho' the lord of the world, was a Taylor by trade

Ye MASONS! who work in stone, mortar and brick
And lay the foundations, deep, solid and thick
Tho' hard be your labor, yet lasting your fame
Both Egypt and China your wonders proclaim

Ye SMITHS! who forge tools for all trades here below
You have nothing to fear, while you smite and you blow
All things you may conquer, so happy your lot
If you're careful to strike while the iron is hot

Ye SHOE-MAKERS! nobly from ages long past
Have defended your rights with your awl to the last
And COBLERS all merry, not only stop holes
But work night and day for the good of our soals [sic]

Ye CABINET-MAKERS! brave workers in wood
As you work for the ladies, your work must be good
And JOINERS and CARPENTERS far off and near
Stick close to your trades and you've nothing to fear

Ye HATTERS! who ost with hands not very fair
Fix bats on a block, for a blackhead to wear
Tho' charity cover a sin now and then
You cover the heads and the sins of all men

Ye COACH-MAKERS! must not by tax be controul'd [sic]
But ship off your coaches and fetch us home gold
The roll of your coach made Copernicus reel
And fancy the world to turn round like a wheel

Ye CARDERS and SPINNERS and WEAVERS attend
And take the advice of poor Richard your friend
Stick close to your looms and your wheels and your cards
And you never need fear of the times being hard

Ye PRINTERS! who give us our learning and news
And impartially print for Turks, Christians and Jews
Let your favorite toast ever found thro' the streets
The freedom of press, and a volume in sheets

Ye COOPERS! who rattle with driver and adz
And lecture each day upon hoops and on heads
The famous old ballad of Love in a Tub
You may sing to the tune of your rub a dub dub

Ye SHIP-BUILDERS! RIGGERS and MAKERS of SAILS!
Already the new constitution prevails
And soon you shall sec o'er the proud swelling tide
The ships of Columbia triumphantly ride

Each TRADESMAN turn out with his tool in his hand
To cherish the ARTS and keep PEACE through the land
Each 'PRENTICE and JOURNEYMAN join in my song
And let the brisk CHORUS come bounding along
Come bounding along, come bounding along
And let the brisk CHORUS come bounding along

Does anyone know anything else about this song? Most importantly, is there a melody for this song? I've not found a publication that specifies an air.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mechanic's Song by Ben Franklin?
From: cnd
Date: 07 Apr 24 - 04:59 PM

I found a tune dated circa 1820 (Work and Sing by Ronald Cohen, preface). There was no tune with it, unfortunately. Perhaps this was one of the copies of the song supposedly thrown off the floats at the festival which many sources reference.

The closest to an actual answer I've found is from Elbridge Brooks biography of Franklin (pp. 228-229), where he wrote the following: "When the States had adopted the Constitution, there was a great celebration in Philadelphia in honor of the event. There was a procession, a banquet, and speeches; and Franklin did his share in making it remembered. In the procession all the trades were represented at their work; the printers had a wagon on which was a press, and they printed and scattered among the crowd a song written by Franklin in honor of the trades. It was not much of a song or much of a poem. Franklin himself, you know, laughed at his so-called poetry. But it was verse; and, as a song, it became as popular as anything a real poet could have written.

Sadly, I've found no indication of a true tune, though I think it can be read to Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changing

(As a final PS note, one newspaper I found clarified that the "Happy and free, happy and free / Yet all are contented and happy and free" appended to the end of the first stanza was actually a chorus that was repeated after every stanza.)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mechanic's Song by Ben Franklin?
From: cnd
Date: 08 Apr 24 - 08:04 AM

Sorry for any confusion: the first sentence should read: "I found a broadside dated circa 1820..."