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17 May 07 - 03:42 AM (#2054315) Subject: British American Independence songs From: GUEST,Black Hawk on works PC For July 4th Independence Day our local gathering (UK) always hosts an American night. This consists of artists singing/playing old time American offerings. Although I mostly sing these type of songs anyway, I find it strange that we in England celebrate being defeated by a 'rabble' army. L.O.L. For a change, does anybody know any songs that :- a) Tell it from a British point of view b) Are parodies of the more popular 'independence songs' (I already have the 'New Battle of New Orleans' by Ray Stevens (?). Thanks for your help |
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17 May 07 - 07:06 AM (#2054450) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: GUEST,Darowyn There were Royalist American songs, I used one for a MIDI exercise a couple of years ago. It was called something like "Good Old Colonial Days" I's here, if you want to have a go:- Good Old Colonial Days Cheers Dave |
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17 May 07 - 07:09 AM (#2054451) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: GUEST,PMB If there are any, Jack Campin is the one who will know about them- try a PM to him |
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17 May 07 - 07:18 AM (#2054457) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: GUEST,Black Hawk still at work Darowyn - Thanks, thats a good start. Just the type I need. Keep 'em coming !! |
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17 May 07 - 08:06 AM (#2054500) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Keith A of Hertford Chesapeake and Shannon There are at least two songs aboput this enghagement. |
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17 May 07 - 08:30 AM (#2054523) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: BuckMulligan The tune noted above is a variant of Three Jolly Rogues of Lynne - well-known back in the Scare days as a popular KT offering. |
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17 May 07 - 08:55 AM (#2054536) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Snuffy I didn't know we'd won our independence from the USA. Perhaps we might get it when Blair goes. |
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17 May 07 - 09:25 AM (#2054571) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser) Don't know about the war of independence but there are a couple of decent songs about the war of 1812 (which was a one-all draw): 'Battle of New Orleans' and 'The Guerriere and the Constitution', which Mick Hanly recorded in 1980. Worth a read is Kenneth Roberts' novel 'Oliver Wiswell', which tells the story of the war of independence from the loyalist perspective. |
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17 May 07 - 09:56 AM (#2054596) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Bob the Postman "Chesapeake and Shannon" also refers to events of the War Of 1812-1814, as does a song about Laura Secord by the group Tanglefoot, as well us a number of other songs to be found in Canadian collections. The refugees who left the rebellious colonies in the 1770s for the loyal colonies farther north are known in Canada as the United Empire Loyalists. A quick glance at a couple of songbooks I have yields no results but googling "United Empire Loyalists" might turn up something. |
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17 May 07 - 11:57 AM (#2054710) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: GUEST,Black Hawk not logged in Thanks Bob - I've glanced at some United Empire Loyalists sites but not found any songs yet. Will keep trying. Comedy songs may be best in this situation - I dont want to start another war :-) |
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17 May 07 - 12:13 PM (#2054729) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: The Walrus You could always try the traditional versions of "Yankee Doodle" (After all, the original song makes a mockery of an American rustic -the eponimous "Yankee Doodle" - who thinks wearing feathers puts him on a sartorial level with an elaborate Anglo-Italian dresss parody*) - I believe during the war, the British military band practice was to play it ending in a musical 'raspberry'** W * IIRC, "Macaroni" was an English/British+ parody of an Italian take on an English fashion++. ** I believe this is mentioned in "Songs and Muisic of the Redcoats" + I don't know if 'Macaroni' was practiced o any extent in Scotland or Ireland ++ London once was a centre for fashion. |
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17 May 07 - 12:19 PM (#2054731) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: dick greenhaus In DT (search for @Revolution @Tory) A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON THE WHIG REFUGEE SONG THE REBELS LIBERTY SONG (parody) THE EPILOGUE THE CONGRESS CASTLE ISLAND SONG |
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17 May 07 - 05:37 PM (#2054962) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: MissouriMud Consider the Banks of the Dee - written in 1775 by Scotsman John Tait to bemoan (from a female perspective!)the departure of a friend who was headed to the colonies to help quell the "rebellion". It was put to the slowed down tune of Langolee - beautiful tune. The Colonials liked it so much they made a parody of it. The original and parody can both be found at http://www.americanrevolution.org/warsongs.html |
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17 May 07 - 06:20 PM (#2054988) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Jack Campin The best I know are the songs about John Paul Jones (the Osama bin Laden of the 1780s) and the response of the British establishment to the threat of having him blast coastal towns to oblivion (not a whole lot more effectual than Dubya and just as ludicrously self-important as the present-day "anti-terrorism" industry). There are also a shitload of songs expressing "hell no, we won't go" sentiments on the British side - as today, any soldier with half a brain would mutiny or desert. If the OP cares to unGUEST him/herself and contact me I can send something. |
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17 May 07 - 09:09 PM (#2055080) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Bob the Postman Seventy years after the Declaration of Independence, the USA was in full expansionist mode. Annexation, a parody of Yankee Doodle, dates from this era. |
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17 May 07 - 09:30 PM (#2055089) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Bob the Postman Here's something. And here. Though neither are really the sort of thing you're looking for, I expect. |
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18 May 07 - 02:34 PM (#2055761) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Black Hawk Still looking. Jack Campin being helpful - thanks Jack |
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18 May 07 - 08:18 PM (#2056018) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Bob the Postman Wikipedia describes the Battle of Bunker Hill as a Pyrrhic victory. Still a victory though. Broadside here. |
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18 May 07 - 09:49 PM (#2056066) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Joe_F _Patchwork and Powder Horn Songs of the American Revolution_ (Folkways FH 5278, 1975) can be downloaded from the Smithsonian. It has a number of amusing songs on both sides. Here is one: THE WICKED REBELS On the ninth day of November, at the dawning in the sky, Ere we sailed away to New York, we at anchor here did lie. O'er the meadows fair of Kinsbridge, how the mist was hanging gray, We were bound against the rebels in the North Americay. Oh, how mournful was the parting of the soldiers and their wives, For that no one knew for sartin they'd return home with their lives, All the women were a-weeping and they cursed the cruel day That we sailed against the rebels in the North Americay. All the little babes were holding out their arms with saddest cries, And the bitter tears were falling from their pretty simple eyes, That their scarlet-coated daddies must be hastening away For to fight the wicked rebels in the North Americay. Now with "God preserve our monarch" let us finish up our strain, Be his subjects ever loyal and his honor all maintain. May the Lord our voyage prosper and our arms across the sea, And put down the wicked rebels in the North Americay. |
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19 May 07 - 05:08 AM (#2056256) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: GUEST,Black Hawk unlogged Good one Joe - how do I get the tune? |
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19 May 07 - 05:47 AM (#2056266) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Black Hawk Thanks all - plenty to be going on with. I'll narrow them down to 3 or 4 for singing 'on the night'. Cheers |
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19 May 07 - 08:55 PM (#2056705) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Joe_F Black Hawk: http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/containerdetail.aspx?itemid=960 It shouldn't be hard to guess the last few notes. Or you can buy the whole album for $10. |
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19 May 07 - 09:44 PM (#2056734) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Uncle_DaveO I recommend The British Light Infantry, which was sung by the Tories and of course the British troops. The words are in the DT, and you can find them at This spot . More's the pity, the tune that's part of the DT doesn't play for me, but that might be a peculiarity of my own setup. Try it; it might work for you. If not, PM me, and I'll sing and record it and send it to you by e-mail. Dave Oesterreich |
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21 May 07 - 07:31 AM (#2057524) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Black Hawk Still at work but Joe & Uncle Dave - I will try these as soon as I get home. Thanks |
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21 May 07 - 11:45 AM (#2057719) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: The Walrus There's always "Britons Strike Home" - apparently it was from some 'opera' of the period, based (IIRC) on Boudica/Boadacea which has long since sunk without trace, however, "BSH" did gain some popularity (although whether with the soldiers in the field in the Colonies or with those in pubs in Britain, my source* didn't say) I can only recall the chorus: "Britons strike home "Avenge your country's wrongs "Fight, fight and record "Fight, fight and record "Yourself in Druids' songs." W * Long gone |
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21 May 07 - 12:29 PM (#2057758) Subject: RE: British American Independence songs From: Black Hawk Hi Joe - I'm gonna try & buy the album from that site - thanks. Uncle Dave - music file wont play for me either - PM on its way !! |