America's First Patriotic Song

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

The Star Spangled Banner, the US National Anthem, was not written until the war of 1812. America the Beautiful was not published until 1892. Battle Hymn of the Republic was a Civil War era song sung by the Union Army. My Country Tis of Thee, written in 1832 and our first traditional national anthem, was the United Kingdom's National Anthem with the words changed. The Star Spangled Banner didn't become the official anthem until 1931.

Even though these well known patriotic songs weren't written until well after the United States became a country, there was a patriotic song that became popular during the Revolutionary War. Liberty Song was written by Founding Father John Dickinson. The song was first published in the Boston Gazette in 1768. It was one of the first patriotic songs and included the phrase, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall," for the first time in the sixth verse.

In 1770, the words were changed to reflect growing hostilities toward Great Brittain, and the song was renamed The Massachusetts Song of Liberty.

Here are the original lyrics:

Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call;
No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim,
Or stain with dishonor America's name.
Chorus:
In Freedom we're born and in Freedom we'll live.
Our purses are ready. Steady, friends, steady;
Not as slaves, but as Freemen our money we'll give.Our worthy forefathers, let's give them a cheer,
To climates unknown did courageously steer;
Thro' oceans to deserts for Freedom they came,
And dying, bequeath'd us their freedom and fame.
ChorusTheir generous bosoms all dangers despis'd,
So highly, so wisely, their Birthrights they priz'd;
We'll keep what they gave, we will piously keep,
Nor frustrate their toils on the land and the deep.
ChorusThe tree their own hands had to Liberty rear'd;
They lived to behold growing strong and revered;
With transport they cried, "Now our wishes we gain,
For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain."
ChorusSwarms of placemen and pensioners soon will appear
Like locusts deforming the charms of the year;
Suns vainly will rise, showers vainly descend,
If we are to drudge for what others shall defend.
ChorusThen join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall;
In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed,
For heaven approves of each generous deed.
ChorusAll ages shall speak with amaze and applause,
Of the courage we'll show in support of our Laws;
To die we can bear, but to serve we disdain.
For shame is to Freedom more dreadful than pain.
ChorusThis bumper I crown for our Sovereign's health,
And this for Britannia's glory and wealth;
That wealth and that glory immortal may be,
If She is but Just, and if we are but Free.
Chorus

Added in the 1770 Version:

Come swallow your bumpers, ye Tories, and roar,
That the sons of fair freedom are hampered once more;
But know that no cut-throats our spirits can tame,
Nor a host of oppressors shall smother the flame.
Chorus:
In Freedom we're born, and, like sons of the brave,
Will never surrender, But swear to defend her;
And scorn to survive, if unable to save.

If you'd like to listen to it, here is the YouTube link. I don't think it will replace the Star Spangled Banner any time soon.

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. She is executive editor of Mt Zion Ridge Press.

SONGS THAT HELPED WIN WWII

ANNE GREENE here: 

During WWII we Americans kept our hopes and spirits high with the new songs that blossomed during those dark years when we were losing the battle to Germany’s Hitler and Japan’s Hirohito. 

World War II was the first conflict to take place in the age when almost ninety percent of American households had radio. Never before had songs been so widely available. Never before had the number of listeners been so high. 

Overseas, American troops had access to radio in all but the most difficult combat situations. Between bouts of combat our troops listened to popular music on Armed Forces Radio. 

The song, They’re Either Too Young or Too Old took a light-hearted look at the men left for the women on the home front while our troops were away fighting the war.

Popular songs like Sentimental Journey, I’ll Be Seeing You, Moonlight Serenade, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, spoke of women’s longings for loved ones overseas and the troops yearning to be home. Those songs gave society’s blessing that it was okay to miss your man because he fought for the good of all Americans. The many patriotic songs brought smiles to faces and pride to the hearts of Americans on the home front and abroad. 

Some of the more popular was songs were: 

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrew Sisters – 1941 

Kiss The Boys Goodbye by Frank Loesser 1941 

There’ll Be Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs of Dover by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra. 1942 

Be Careful It’s My Heart by Irving Berlin. 1942 

Comin’ In On A Wing and A Prayer by The Song Spinners 

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 

Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree With Anyone Else But Me by Stept, Brown, and Tobias – 1942 

GI Jive by Johnny Mercer 

I Don’t Want To Walk Without You by Harry James & His Orchestra 1942  

I’ll Be Seeing You by Bind Crosby 

It’s Been A Long Long Time by Harry James 

I’ll Get By As Long As I Have You by Harry James & His Orchestra 

Praise The Lord and Pass The Ammunition by Frank Loesser 1942

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Cole Porter - 1944

Americans held the same desires as their leaders, and the government counted on popular music to reflect the same war aims that Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted. Everyone hoped for a quick victory over the Axis, and the songs about a world after the war with the boys coming home met those wishes. 

This unity gave the USA enormous energy that allowed the nation to accomplish far more, at less human cost, than the other major powers in the war. So, during the dark years of the war where almost every citizen lost a loved one, music kept spirits high. 

Have you heard any of these WWII favorites? If so, which is your favorite? 

Leave a comment and one lucky winner will win my WWII book, Angel With Steel Wings. Buy any one or all seven of Anne’s book on http://www.Amazon.com. 

Ace Collins, bestselling author of numerous books, including the WW II series, In the President’s Service, says of ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS: 

A story of a woman in a man’s domain set against the dynamics of World War II is a can’t-miss scenario. Angel With Steel Wings paints a vivid picture of courageous pilots facing death in the air while struggling with love on the ground, and wraps it up in a unique twist that will challenge all you knew about the “Greatest Generation.” Steeped in history and framed by faith, this is a tale that takes readers into a world now all but forgotten, and lands in a place that touches the heart in a special way. To know how far we have come, we must understand where we started, and Angels With Steel Wings takes us back on a thrilling trip in time that informs as it entertains. I think this is one flight you won’t want to miss. 

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. Her novellas, A CHRISTMAS BELLE, and A GROOM FOR CHRISTMAS are now available. Her Women of Courage Series spotlights heroic women of World War II, with the first book ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS available. Enjoy her private investigating series, Handcuffed In Texas by reading the first book, Holly Garden, PI, RED IS FOR ROOKIE. Try her award-winning Scottish historical romances, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE and MARRIAE BY ARRANGEMENT. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books on http://www.Amazon.com. Type in Anne Greene. Visit Anne at AnneGreeneAuthor.com. and at @TheAnneGreene.  

 

Our Singing Patriots

by Rebecca Price Janney

Most Americans associate the song “Yankee Doodle” with our Revolution against Great Britain (1775-1781), and I’m guessing some of you can “hear” the tune in your head now, accompanied by the sound of a fife of course. It was actually written in 1755 by a surgeon in the British Army. According to Our Singing Nation, “Little did he dream that it would become the Continental Army’s favorite song and would ring in the ears of British soldiers until the War of Independence was over!” 1 (I always used to wonder what it meant to stick a feather in your cap and call it macaroni. According to one source, the term “macaroni” referred to something fashionable back in that era. Okay, that makes sense now!)



Joseph Warren is widely known as a physician from Boston who played an important role in the early struggle for independence.

In addition to serving as President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, he took up arms at the Battle of Breed’s Hill on June 17, 1775, acting as a Major General. He often said of the British, “These fellows say we won’t fight. By Heaven, I hope I shall die up to my knees in blood!”


He heroically held his position until out of ammunition, allowing his outnumbered men to escape, and died when a musket ball struck him in the head. Before his death, Warren wrote “Free America” in which he said in the second verse:

We led fair Freedom hither,
And lo, the desert smiled.
A paradise of pleasure
Was opened in the wild.
Your harvest, bold Americans,
No pow’r shall snatch away!
Huzza, huzza, huzza
For free America!

Some have called “The Liberty Song” by Founding Father John Dickinson America’s first patriotic song. It first appeared in 1768 in The Boston Gazette, and the Sons of Liberty used to sing it whenever they gathered. It went to the tune of “Hearts of Oak,” a British song:

Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty’s call. 
No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim,
Or stain with dishonor America’s name.
In freedom we’re born, and in freedom we’ll live.
Our purses are ready,
Steady friends, steady!
Not as slaves, but as free men our money we’ll give!

One song in particular was sung and played by the British, as well as the Patriots, “The Girl I Left Behind.” Its plaintive theme of missing a beloved lass is universal, so it’s understandable that soldiers on both sides liked hearing it. 

I’m lonesome since I cross’d the hill,
And o’er the moor and valley.
Such heavy thoughts my heart do fill,
Since parting with my Sally.
I seek no more the fine and gay,
For each does but remind me
How swift the hours did pass away
With the girl I left behind me.

The American Revolution reached its conclusion at the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781. As the British under General Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington, they played the tune, “The World Turned Upside Down.”

If buttercups buzz’d after the bees,
If boats were on land, churches on sea,
If ponies rode men,
And if grass ate the cows,
And cats would be chased into holes by the mouse!
If the mammas sold their babies
To the gypsies for half a crown,
If summer were spring and the other way ‘round,
Then all the world would be upside down.

Those were some of the songs that formed “the hit parade” of the American Revolution. Today we don’t tend to recognize most of them, since others have taken their place, “America,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” “God Bless America,” “The National Anthem,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” along with the up tempo marches of John Philip Sousa. Do you have a favorite patriotic song, one that makes you tingle, or perhaps brings a tear to your eyes? 

1. Ruth Heller, Our Singing Nation. Minneapolis: Schmitt, Hall and McCreary Company, 1955. p. 22

Rebecca Price Janney is an award-winning author of several books and speaker about American history. Her titles include Great Events in American History and Great Stories in American History. When she was growing up in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania, she especially loved “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” by George M. Cohan, and “America the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates still makes her cry, especially the second verse:

O beautiful heroes proved in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Til all success be nobleness
And every gain divine.

 www.rebeccapricejanney.com; @rebeccajanney.