Music and War

Revolutionary War (1775–83)

The music related to the Revolutionary War was both con-tentious and celebratory. Early songs provided inspiration, encouraging the citizenry to rebel and seek independence. Some also incited protest, however, resulting in heated public disputes as parodies appeared in response to certain songs.

Songs of this era were usually adaptations of British melodies that were known to most of the colonists. By writ-ing new text to old tunes, songs could be easily disseminated. The events leading up to the war inspired such songs as “Free America” with lyrics by Dr. Joseph Warren, who died at the battle of Bunker Hill. Sung to the tune of “The British Grenadiers,” it appeared in print as early as February 1770, which was some time before the movement to free America was popular:

One of the earliest of America's composers, William Billings, was a tanner from Boston. His choral work “Chester” (1778) combined patriotic and religious fervor. The first completely American patriotic song, it quickly became one of the most popular “hits” of the day: “Let tyrants shake their iron rod/And Slav'ry clank her galling chains;/We fear them not, we trust in God,/New England's God forever reigns.”

The subject of songs changed with the start of armed conflict, as tales of glorious victories were written in support of the fledgling nation. Nathanial Niles's “The American Hero,” subtitled “Made on the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Burning of Charlestown,” reflects on war in general and pro-vides a remarkable portrayal of the ideal American hero, [Page 541]ready to accept death for the cause of freedom: “Life, for my country and the cause of freedom,/Is but a trifle for a worm to part with.” Other popular songs were inspired by specific battles, such as “The Riflemen of Bennington” (c. 1770s). This anonymous song tells the tale of the skirmish at Bennington, Vermont, where American soldiers, under the command of General Stark fought victoriously against Burgoyne's troops:

Regimental bands during the Revolution consisted pri-marily of drums for keeping the troops organized, sounding duties, and beating marches above the noise of artillery. Gradually fifes (small, flute-like instruments) were included to perform simple tunes that boosted morale and often antagonized the opponent, such as “The White Cockade,” a Jacobite (Scots) tune that was played at Concord Bridge. The most famous of these bothersome tunes was “Yankee Doodle.” Although the origin of the tune is unknown, the well-known verse by the surgeon Richard Shuckburg dates from the French and Indian War. During the early years of the war, the British utilized this tune to mock the colonials, but after several victories the rebels adopted it as their own and even played it triumphantly at General Lord Cornwallis's surrender after the siege of Yorktown in 1781.

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