Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-05-24
MistflIanp.
Yankee Doodle.

Yankee Doodle.
! On a recent occasion, says the Boston Trav
eller, when some dozen or more persons were
collected in social circle, and the conversa-
tion had turned upon revolutionary ballads,
and lady of the company had recited the
words of the famous song of Yankee Doodle,
we were struck with the fact that no other one
present remembered having before heard the
whole of the original ballad, the tune of which
is so familiar to every Yankee boy and man,
who can whistle, hum or sing. The song has
indeed almost passed into oblivion, although
four score years have hardly elapsed since it
was adopted as the inspiriting Marseilleise
of newborn nation. 1t is not probable that
perfectly genuine version could now be OBJ
tanned and the origin of the ballad and the
tune are already involved in obscurity. 1t has
occurred to us that many of our readers, in
these peculiarly American days, would be as
much gratifed by the perusal of the most au-
thentic version extant, as the company, on the
occasion to which we have referred, were with
the recital of it.
There is no doubt that the song of Yankee
Doodle was composed as a burlesque, by a
British officer of the revolution. The author,
it must be confessed, was quite successful in
hitting off the language and character of GER
tain class of our countrymen whom it was then
common for the British bloods to style
Yankees. But he had little idea, probably, Of
the destiny of his production nor did any OF
those who joined in the derision anticipate that
the wit would soon be turned upon them, and
that the tune would, on so many subsequent
occasions, discourse such melancholy music
in the ears of Englishmen. The fact is, how
ever, that in few years from the time it was
composed, this, now our national march, in
spired the hearts of the heroes of Bunker Hill
and in a few years more, Lord CORVALLIS and
his proud army marched into the American
lines 10 the tune of Yankee Doodle.
Some of the commentators of this glorious
song date the origin of the tune as far back as
1855, when the BliHsh were aiming at the re-
duction Of the French power in Canada. The
British army, under Gen. Amherst, was en-
camped on the eastern bank of the Hudson,
near Albany; and the colonies, which had
been called upon for assistance, were Loyalty
pouring in their quotas of men. AS the east
ern troops came in, company after company
some with long ana some with short coats,
and some with no coats !; some with wigs
and some with jigs, and some with hair
cropped like the army of Cromwell, they fur
nished matter of amusement to the wits of the
| British army, who were little familiar with
the descendants of the Puritans, and exhibited
sight which the wondering strangers had
been unaccustomed to see in their own land.
There was a physician attached to the staff
of the British army, who was wit and a mu-
sician as well as a surgeon. He, it is said,
under the inspiration of the occasion, COM
posed the tune Of Yankee Doodle, and gravely
recommended it to the Yankee officers as a
celebrated martial air. The joke took, TO the
10 small amusement of the British corps
Brother Jonathan exclaimed, it was nation fine,
and in few days nothing was heard in the
provincial camp but the air, of which, without
further preface, we now give the words =
YANKEE DOODLE.
/. Father and went down to camp,
Along with Captain Goodwin,
Where we see the men and boys
As thick as hasty-puddin.
2. There was captain Washington
Upon slapping stallion.
A giving orders to his men
guess there was million.
8. And then the feathers on his hat,
They look d so tdrnal .fna,
I wanted pockiiy to get
To give to my Jemima.
4. And they had s,oampin gun
AS large as log of maple,
On deuced little cart
A load for fathers cattle.
5. And every time they fred it off,
1t took horn of powder
1t made a noise like fathers gun,
Only aation louder;
6. went as near to it myself
AS Jacobs underpimain,
And father went as near agin-
l thought the deuce was in him.
7. And then see little keg.
Its heads were made of leather
They knock'd upon't with little sticki
To call the folks together.
s. And there they fife a,oay like fun,
And play on oornstock sddles,
i. And some had ri66ands red as blood,
All wou,,d about their middles.
The troopers too would gallop up,
And fire right in our faces;
1t scared me almost half to death
To see them run such races.
10. Old Uncle Sam come there to change
Some pancakes and some onions,
For lasses cakes to carry home
. To give his wife and young ones.
IL. But can't tell you half see,
They kept up such smother;