Songs From American Imperialism

Subject: Songs From American Imperialism
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 03:53 PM

I'm doing a project on a song from the american imperialism time period, that talks about imperialism. Any idea what song I could use?

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: GUEST,ifor
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:11 PM

Americamn Imperialism is still going on full speed ahead...try "Senor,Tales of Yankee Power" by Bob Dylan from I think,the Street Legal album.Great song.
Ifor

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:12 PM

You say your project is "on a song from" etc. Then you ask for ideas about what song to use. Tad confusing. Perhaps you could tell us what song you are already using?

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:17 PM

Fixin to Die Rag

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:17 PM

Hi - what a fascinating topic! Go to the Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection at Johns Hopkins University and you'll find all sorts of fascinating stuff. Try searching for Panama, Cuba, Teddy, Theodore, Cuba

I think the Spanish-American War was the peak of American imperialism - a search for that will bring up 77 songs, and many of them are VERY imperialistic.

Oh, also check the American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress.

Here's a 1905 song called When America Is Captured by the Japs, which may not exactly fit your subject (but it might) - the date and subject matter fascinated me. On the subject of Cuba, there's a song called There's Room for One More Star that sounds very imperialistic (can you imagine Cuba as the 51st state?).

Good luck with your project.

-Joe-

P.S. We ask that you use a consistent user name when you post - don't leave the "from" box blank when you post a message.

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:18 PM

Actually , another thought - THe Star Spangled Banner.

Or John Brown's Body

Oh Green Grow the Rushes Oh

Depends what you mean by American Imperialism

Subject: ADD: There's Room for One More Star
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:28 PM

Thanks to pdmusic.org, I don't have to bother transcribing "There's Room for One More Star."

There's Room for One More Star (1898)
Respecfully dedicated to the fate of CUBA.
[from a Musical Supplement of
The New York Journal, April 17, 1898]
Words by William J. Hartley
Music by Leo Feist

1.
Look up Cuba! why are you weeping?
Why are you grieving day after day?
Justice may seem so silently sleeping
and turn a deaf ear to you when you pray,
Cuba! cheer up! and look forward with pleasure,
Soon will your sorrow vanish afar,
For in Old Glory's starry gemmed azure
There's room for one more star.

CHORUS
There's room for one more star,
And Cuba you'll find you are,
Destined by fate to be with us,
and Spain will prove no bar.
Rise in your might and fight;
Cuba your cause is right
And Uncle Sam says remember
There's room for one more star.

2.
Long have you tried vainly to sunder,
Cold cruel links of slavery's chain,
Binding you tightly a poor captive under
the merciless rule of your harsh master Spain,
Heroes who loved you, who fought, bled and perished,
Striving to free you day after day,
Soon will their dream th'o' weary years cherish'd
Come true and your chains fall away.

(CHORUS)

3.
Nobly you fight ever resinking,
Task master Spain who spares not to slay.
Led by a Hero ever persisting
and striving for freedom till he passed away,
Our Motto's fair play,
and tho' Spain may raid you,
You'll share the freedom we now enjoy,
And with the help of the Journal we'll aid you,
Dear Cuba, Spain's rule to destroy.

(CHORUS)

---

How's THAT for imperialism?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: Les from Hull
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:32 PM

Wasn't there a song 'Remember the Maine'? I've looked for the lyrics but I haven't found them on the 'net. But to a non-USA person such a song should give you plenty to go on.

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: Les from Hull
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 04:33 PM

Good call, Joe!

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: 12-stringer
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 05:40 PM

Phil Ochs, "Cops of the World."

Subject: Lyr Add: WAR MONGERIN' MAN (Reggie Miles)
From: reggie miles
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 05:50 PM

This one comes to mind. There's an audio rough of it posted here:

War Mongerin' Man

It's still a very new song for me so don't judge this recording of it too harshly. I just felt the need to get it out there in any form I could.

War Mongerin' Man - Reggie Miles © 2007

It's a cold, cold wind that blows no good
An evil seed that's growin' in our neighborhood
With a twisted soul, and tortured mind
And no love for his own kind
Too blind to see the things he should

Only the sound of gold ringing in his ears
Drowning out the cries of those whose lives are filled with tears
His deaf and dumb predisposition
Gives me a strong suspicion
Avarice is his sole mission around here

With every word he tries to convolute
Nothing is so sacred that his lies will not pollute
Disinformation is his tool
Playin' everybody for the fool
Is his only golden rule absolute

Have you felt the darkness spread,
Or heard the truth subverted by what he said?
A glad hand and a smile
Is his deceptive style
All the while he's a wishin' you were dead

Have you seen that war mongerin' man?
Have you seen the fruits of his labor across this land?
Have you ever wondered why?
He'll kiss your baby then he'll spit in your eye.
It's all a part of his master plan

It's a cold, cold wind that blows no good
An evil weed growin' in the neighborhood
Grab your Bush ax don't be slow
Or you will reap just what you sow
And the body count will grow it's understood

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: reggie miles
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 05:52 PM

While there you might as well give a listen to Hell No To The WTO too. It has similar tones.

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 06:02 PM

"the american imperialism time period"

Roll on the day when that's history and not current affairs...

For the period the project is probably supposed to be about, Rudyard Kipling's advice to the USA in 1899 is relevant. If you're going to be in the business of Empire, this is the way to explain it:

Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go, bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait, in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught sullen peoples,
Half devil and half child.

Take up the White Man's burden--
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain,
To seek another's profit
And work another's gain.

Take up the White Man's burden--
The savage wars of peace--
Fill full the mouth of Famine,
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
(The end for others sought)
Watch sloth and heathen folly
Bring all your hope to nought.

Take up the White Man's burden--
No iron rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper--
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go, make them with your living
And mark them with your dead.

Take up the White Man's burden,
And reap his old reward--
The blame of those ye better
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought ye us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"

Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloak your weariness.
By all ye will or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent sullen peoples
Shall weigh your God and you.

Take up the White Man's burden!
Have done with childish days--
The lightly-proffered laurel,
The easy ungrudged praise:
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers.

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 06:04 PM

From the DT

0.7961 - DAMN, DAMN, DAMN THE FILIPINOS
0.7742 - PHILIPPINITIS
0.7742 - IF A LADY'S WEARIN' PANTALOONS
0.8909 - MARCHING TO CUBA
0.7967 - WHAT DID DEWEY DO TO THEM?
0.7967 - THE CUBAN SOLDIER

and The Battleship of Maine.

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 07:21 PM

There's a song called "If You Don't Like Your Uncle Sammy" from the twenties.

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: oldhippie
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 09:37 PM

Recently, there's "My Uncle Is A Terrorist" - Bruce Lesnick , again referring to "Uncle Sam".

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: number 6
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 10:57 PM

Toby Keith's "Angry American"

biLL

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 05:07 AM

Jez Lowe does a song called Yanky Boots about El Savador.
good song.

Subject: RE: Songs From American Imperialism
From: Grab
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 05:36 AM

Very pop, but there's always Nerina Pallot "Everybody's going to war".

Also on the Jez Lowe theme, his last album had a song called "Vikings", which is absolutely pitch-black comedy - it starts off sounding like a light-hearted comic song, and then you listen to the words and realise it isn't.

And don't forget Folk songs of the far right wing...

Graham.