Ballad of America

Subject: Ballad of America
From: Mrrzy
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 11:14 AM

Tried to run a search but the search isn't working, so sorry if there has already been a thread or several on this. I just discovered it.

The Ballad of America: The history of the United States in song and story, by John Anthony Scott, has songs from the colonial days (British and American songs, loosely writing), The Revolutionary era, the early days, what the author calls Jacksonian America (Sea/Immigration, Western expansion, slavery); the Civil War; up to WWI; between the world wars; WWII; and post-WWII. Has lyrics and music, and historical notes throughout. VERY informative, I had no idea that some of the songs I know were so old (I would have thought Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier to be a Civil War song, but it's Revolutionary, for instance, as is The Man Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn, and so on. Published by Bantam in the edition I have. Fun!

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: masato sakurai
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 12:20 PM

Listed in A Basic Folk Library. A hardcover edition was published later.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 12:58 PM

I'm confused... do you have a question about the book?

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 03:25 PM

Bantam made this book available in the 60's for schools to use in our area, I know I have at least two copies in paperback kicking around the house. Invaluable to me when I was younger. Important resource even now. A similar format in some ways to Lomax Folksongs of North America. Less scholarly and more usable songs if thats a fair thing to say.

Don

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 03:30 PM

Fewer errors than most similar anthologies, but still quite a few.

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: Hrothgar
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 03:41 AM

"Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" dates back a hundred years before the Revolutionary War, to the time of the Irish Wild Geese. There's a bit about it in "Folk Songs of North America."

From what I can gather, it was used in the Revolutionary War, the War of Independence, and the American Civil War. I think the more American versions of the song might be under the title of "Buttermilk Hill," as sung by the Weavers, for example. It's been a busy little song.

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 10:01 AM

No question, just bringing it to the attention of any Mudcatter who didn't already know about it, like me a few days ago...

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 01:22 PM

Ancient lies and guesswork get repeateded until they get accepted as truisms. There is no evidence for "Shule Aroon" before the 19th century and none for "Johnny has gone for a soldier" before the US civil war.

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 03:06 PM

Thanks Mrzzy... just making sure I didn't miss something!

I have a copy of this book as well. It has been a great resource for me.

Subject: RE: Ballad of America
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Feb 02 - 08:42 PM

Tony (John Anthony) Scott has been working on a new version of this for a while now. He and I have been politely arguing (and even discussing) the origins of "MASTER OF THE SHEEPFOLD" which he feels is of British origin. I have other ideas. If anyone has this new edition, please let me know what his comments on this great song turned out be.

Art Thieme