Ballads memorialized heroes, decried working conditions, or expressed pride. Union songs recruited members to fight those conditions. Songs can reveal much about relationships and values in the home and the drudgery of keeping them. Children learned lessons both moral and academic through songs. We put our ears to the doors that most textbooks keep closed to find out more about the human-ness of our ancestors.
Nothing reveals what people believe quite as effectively as the songs they sing.
Music is one of the primary ways people pass values from generation to generation. We look at songs of religious faith, devotion to country, ethical convictions, and altruistic ideas to try to understand the diverse beliefs and values that motivate Americans. Email Susan Donley with additions, corrections, or annotations.