Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-06-27
MISCELLAN



die has the strongest resemblance to the
original of all we have examined. With the
exception Of Nankee, for which Yankee
has been substituted, the first line is the
same. The occurrence Of the word feather
in the English is no less remarkable in
fact, the whole string of verses known an
ciently in England, and supposed TO allude
to the coming Of Oliver Cromwell Con a
small horse) into Oxford, with his single
plume, which he wore fastened in sort ol
knot, which the adherents of the royal par
ty called "a macaroni out Of derision, all
go to prove that something similar to our
song was anciently known to the English
people. Another circumstance renders the
history Of this tune remarkable: the old
English song is written in the same time,
and has the same number of bars; and it is
well known that the words Of Lydia Lock
ct" alias Lucy Locket," familiar in olden
times, and still sung by the school children
in this country. are also as common in Eng
land; and from the close resemblance both
in words and music, there can be but little
doubt that the tune was known to DR.. Shak-
burg, and that when he transcribed it for
our soldiers in 1775, and recommended il
as fine military air, it was received in good
faith as something entirely original; but
present evidence proves it then to have
been very old, and consequently calculated
to amuse the British at the expense of
Brother Jonathan. We have copy of the
English Lucy Locket written in the key
of c, "a time, and closely resembling
Yankee Doodle. In an old copy of" Pou-
sons Advertiser we find version of the
tune, said TO be the original; but we are
aot prepared to believe the authority good,
here, since the notes are represented only
by letters, and the tune has as much resem-
blance TO Nancy Dawson, as it has to " Lyd-
ia Locket or Yankee Doodle. The writer
ia ouisoii, say
g Knowing how few presses are supplied
with mnsic-type, have conveyed this tune
10 your readers in such a manner as will
enable them to reduce it to music-paper.-
The letters in italic, are notes Immediately
above the five lines, SO that italic G is four
notes above c, (meaning fifth,) and the
bars are separated by perpendicular lines" !"
"A Ic.tot was f,uIiisi.od in tire = cotrm-
Jiaa GazeRe," which gives some light on
the subject of this tune; it was dated,
WASHINGTON CRY, 10th Feb. 1880.
S:-Some years ago friend of mine,
at Cheltenham, England, turned his atten-
ton to the musical antiquities of that coun-
try, and tune in his collection which
perfectly remember, seems SO much like the
foundation of your national air, that ! am
induced TO offer to you few remarks in aid
of the end which is aimed at by you TO OBJ
tain correct history of the tune now known
as Yankee Doodle"
This writer then proceeds to trace the
tune to the reign of Charles the First ; but
the substance Of all he says we have gath
cred in the foregoing remarks. That the
tune is ancient, is certain; and yet those
who claim the American words Father
and went down to camp" as being known
previous to the battle Of Bunker Hill, must
be mistaken; other words to the same tune
may have been known and sung as early as
l775; but the Oldest and as we think the
most correct copy of our American song is
from Farmer & Moore's Historical Collec-
tions, as follows -
Father and went down to camp,
Along with Captain Goodin,
Where the and boys
As thick as Hasty-pudding.
There was Captain Washington
Upon slapping stallion,
A giving orders to his men
guess there a million.
And then the feathers on his hat,
They looked SO tarnal fine
wanted peskily to get
To give my Jemima
And there they had swampin gun
As large a log omapie,
On a deuced little cart
load for fathers cattle.
And every time they fired it OF
1t took horn of powder,
II made a noise like fathers gun
Only nation louder
went rs to 1t myself,
As Jacobs underpinn,
And iather rs again
thought the deuce in him
And there saw a little keg,
Its head made Of leather-
They knock upon't with little sticks
To call the folks together.
And there they'd fife away ike fun,
And played on cornstslk hddles,
And come had ribbons red as blood,
All bound about their middles.
The troopers too, would gslop up
And fire right in faces;
1t scared almost half death
To them such
Old Uncle ssm came there to change
some pancakes and some onions,
For 'lasses cakes to carry home,
To give his wife and young ones.
But can't tell you hAd see,
They kept up such smother;
Sc took my hat of-msde bow,
And sczmbered home to mother.