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"Yankee Doodle, near Bull Run
Met his adversary,
First he thought the fight he's won,
Fate proved quite contrary."
Illustration from "Punch" Magazine
(United States Public Domain)
Met his adversary,
First he thought the fight he's won,
Fate proved quite contrary."
Illustration from "Punch" Magazine
(United States Public Domain)
During the Civil War, "The London Charivari" also known as "Punch", a British weekly satirical magazine established in 1841 decided to have some fun with the Union. They wrote a parody based on the well-known song "Yankee Doodle" It was the perfect choice for that tune carried a history in America of almost a 100 years. It had been sung by British military officers to mock the American colonists that had served alongside them during the French and Indian wars (1754–1763). The colonists would get their revenge a few years later when they won their independence from the British - but the song of "yankee simpletons" was still fresh in their memories and they created another verse:
"Panic-struck he fled, with speed
Of lightning glib with unction,
Of slippery grease, in full stampede,
From famed Manassas Junction.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle was a chap
Who bragged and swore tarnation,
He stuck a feather in his cap,
And called it federation." {1}
Of lightning glib with unction,
Of slippery grease, in full stampede,
From famed Manassas Junction.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle was a chap
Who bragged and swore tarnation,
He stuck a feather in his cap,
And called it federation." {1}
For the four years that encompassed the war this British magazine was extremely busy in a war where they claimed their neutrality.
* * *
But for those in the south the song Yankee Doodle was becoming a popular song to parody. In the parody "A Farewell to Yankee Doodle" (some verses below) telling a version of John Brown:
"Yankee Doodle sent us down,
a gallant missionary,
His name was Captain Johnny Brown,
the "Priest of Harper's Ferry".
With pikes he tried to magnify,
the Gospel creed of Beecher,
But old Virginia lifted high,
this military preacher.
Yet glory to his name is sung,
as if with sin untainted.
The bloody wretch of justice hung,
by bigotry is sainted.
Yankee Doodle now goodbye,
We spurn a thing so rotten.
Proud Independence is the cry,
of Sugar, Rice and Cotton. {2}
* * *
a gallant missionary,
His name was Captain Johnny Brown,
the "Priest of Harper's Ferry".
With pikes he tried to magnify,
the Gospel creed of Beecher,
But old Virginia lifted high,
this military preacher.
Yet glory to his name is sung,
as if with sin untainted.
The bloody wretch of justice hung,
by bigotry is sainted.
Yankee Doodle now goodbye,
We spurn a thing so rotten.
Proud Independence is the cry,
of Sugar, Rice and Cotton. {2}
* * *
And yet another rendition:
"Hurrah for brave King Cotton,
the southerners are singing.
From Carolina to the Gulf,
the echo's loudly ringing.
In every heart a feeling stirs,
'gainst northern abolition.
Something is heard of compromise,
but nothing of submission.
(Chorus) Cotton-doodle boys-Hurrah!
we've sent old Yankee hissing.
And when we get our Southern rights,
I guess he'll turn up missing.
Thank God his day is passing,
He can no longer vex us.
For, state by state, we firmly stand,
from Maryland to Texas.
King Cotton is a monarch,
who'll conquer abolition.
And set his foot upon the neck
of treason and sedition." {3}
* * *
the southerners are singing.
From Carolina to the Gulf,
the echo's loudly ringing.
In every heart a feeling stirs,
'gainst northern abolition.
Something is heard of compromise,
but nothing of submission.
(Chorus) Cotton-doodle boys-Hurrah!
we've sent old Yankee hissing.
And when we get our Southern rights,
I guess he'll turn up missing.
Thank God his day is passing,
He can no longer vex us.
For, state by state, we firmly stand,
from Maryland to Texas.
King Cotton is a monarch,
who'll conquer abolition.
And set his foot upon the neck
of treason and sedition." {3}
* * *
Meanwhile in New Orleans in 1862 another version of Yankee Doodle was published. This parody was written by Margaret Weir and she dedicated her version to "our dear Soldiers on the Battle Field".
(United States Public Domain)
"Dixie whipped old Yankee Doodle
Early in the morning,
So Yankeedom had best look out,
And take a timely warning.
(Chorus) Hurrah! for our Dixie Land!
Hurrah! for our borders!
Southern boys to arms will stand,
And whip the dark marauders!
Yankee Doodles soundly slept
Upon their greasy pillows,
While Dixie boys, with muffled oars,
Were gliding o'er the billows.
Yankee Doodles, grease your heels,
Make ready to be running,
For Dixie boys are near at hand,
Surpassing you in cunning.
Anderson, the gallant brave,
Who broke upon their slumbers,
E'en little girls and boys shall sing
Your name in tuneful numbers.
A thousand blessings on your heads,
Our brave, unflinching leaders,
A light you are upon the path
Of all our brave seceders.
Wright, on Carolina's coast,
Was e'er a hero bolder?
He seized a Yankee foe, and made
A breastwork of the soldier.
Louisiana, bold and brave,
Renowned for Creole beauty,
Your champions will bear in mind
The watchword, grace and booty!
Yankee Doodle, fair thee well,
Ere long you'll be forgotten,
While Dixie's notes shall gaily float
Throughout the land of cotton." {*}
* * *
"Yankee Doodle had a mind
To whip the Southern "traitors,"
Because they didn't choose to live
On codfish and potatoes.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
And so to keep his courage up
He took a drink of brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle made a speech;
'Twas very full of feeling:
I fear, says he, I cannot fight,
But I am good at stealing.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Hurrah for Lincoln, he's the boy
To take a drop of brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle drew his sword,
And practiced all the passes;
Come boys, we'll take another drink
When we get to Manassas.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
They never reached Manassas plain,
And never got the brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle soon found out
That Bull Run was no trifle;
For if the North knew how to steal,
The South knew how to rifle.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
'Tis very clear I took too much
Of that infernal brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle wheeled about,
And scampered off at full run,
And such a race was never seen
As that he made at Bull Run.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
I haven't time to stop just now
To take a drop of brandy. {3}
* * *
To whip the Southern "traitors,"
Because they didn't choose to live
On codfish and potatoes.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
And so to keep his courage up
He took a drink of brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle made a speech;
'Twas very full of feeling:
I fear, says he, I cannot fight,
But I am good at stealing.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Hurrah for Lincoln, he's the boy
To take a drop of brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle drew his sword,
And practiced all the passes;
Come boys, we'll take another drink
When we get to Manassas.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
They never reached Manassas plain,
And never got the brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle soon found out
That Bull Run was no trifle;
For if the North knew how to steal,
The South knew how to rifle.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
'Tis very clear I took too much
Of that infernal brandy.
*
Yankee Doodle wheeled about,
And scampered off at full run,
And such a race was never seen
As that he made at Bull Run.
(Chorus) Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
I haven't time to stop just now
To take a drop of brandy. {3}
* * *
Sources
1. https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3579&context=etd
2. Songs of the Civil War; by Irwin Silber, Jerry Silverman
3. https://muzikum.eu/en/123-26404-465815/unknown/confederate-yankee-doodle-lyrics.html#ixzz6MWWlUfIz
{*} Wikipedia - Dixie Doodle
https://www.clipart.email/download/25086211.html
(Actually I know 2 versions of it, one from the Rev War known as the "Ancient" version and the "Modern" version from the Civil War era. It had been around so long by the time of the Civil War, they considered the earlier version "Ancient.")
Bringing the