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| Tradition has it that Yankee Doodle had its origins in the French and Indian War when New England troops joined Braddock's forces at Niagara. In contrast to the spit and polish of the British army, the colonials were a motley crew, some wearing buckskins and furs. Dr. Richard Schuckburg, a British Army surgeon reportedly wrote the tune ridiculing the Americans in the early 1750s. Some scholars believe it is a variant of the nursery rhyme Lucy Locket.
Despite the fact it began as ridicule, the colonials took the song for their own. Countless versions and parodies evolved, many of which made fun of their officers, including George Washington. These verses are included at the end of the tune. When Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown it is said while the British played The World Turned Upside Down, the Americans played Yankee Doodle. There are said to be as many as 190 verses of Yankee Doodle. |
Father and I went down to camp Along with Captain Gooding And there we saw the men and boys As thick as hasty pudding. Chorus Yankee doodle, keep it up Yankee doodle dandy Mind the music and the step And with the girls be handy. There was Captain Washington Upon a slapping stallion A-giving orders to his men I guess there was a million. Chorus And then the feathers on his hat They looked so' tarnal fin-a I wanted pockily to get To give to my Jemima. Chorus And then we saw a swamping gun Large as a log of maple Upon a deuced little cart A load for father's cattle. Chorus And every time they shoot it off It takes a horn of powder It makes a noise like father's gun Only a nation louder. Chorus I went as nigh to one myself As' Siah's underpinning And father went as nigh agin I thought the deuce was in him. We saw a little barrel, too The heads were made of leather They knocked upon it with little clubs And called the folks together. Chorus And there they'd fife away like fun And play on cornstalk fiddles And some had ribbons red as blood All bound around their middles. The troopers, too, would gallop up And fire right in our faces It scared me almost to death To see them run such races. Chorus Uncle Sam came there to change Some pancakes and some onions For' lasses cake to carry home To give his wife and young ones. Chorus But I can't tell half I see They kept up such a smother So I took my hat off, made a bow And scampered home to mother. Chorus Cousin Simon grew so bold I thought he would have cocked it It scared me so I streaked it off And hung by father's pocket. Chorus And there I saw a pumpkin shell As big as mother's basin And every time they touched it off They scampered like the nation. Other Verses: And there was Captain Washington, With gentlefolks about him, They say he's gown so 'tarnal proud He will not ride without them. Chorus There came Gen'ral Washington Upon a snow-white charger He looked as big as all outdoors And thought that he was larger. Chorus |
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From The Ballad of America Additional Verses from Colonial and Revolution Songbook See Bibliography for full information. |
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