harmoniously speaking...
Have you ever noticed how throughout U.S. history beginning with the earliest war, harmonies have often brought us harmony?
Huh? What's up with that?
Musical harmony has periodically produced some kind of an agreement or at the least, harmonious relations among groups divided within our culture. In perilous times, there have been occasions when music has bridged the gap between desperation and hope. Depending upon the circumstances, the right lyrics and tune can be inspiring and galvanizing.
In other words, there have been times when music can serve as an elixir and work magic.
The Revolutionary War is a perfect illustration of how music lifted spirits and served as a motivator to an entire army. And, unbelievably, it all began with a simple and harmless melody.
Yankee Doodle wasn't really a song about a symbol or war hero. It was written by a British army surgeon during the French and Indian War and was composed specifically to make fun of colonial soldiers. The tune had been a part of many British songs prior to the acclaim it would receive as the melody we know so well today.
Yankee was actually a derogatory term attached to New Englanders. And, macaroni in those days didn't refer to your favorite pasta dish. Rather, it referred to an effeminate hair style. So, the composer was basically calling the colonists unmanly and far less than bright.
But, the very people the lyrics were meant to denigrate loved the song so much, they adopted it as their most patriotic song. It was sung during down times, while moving from one battle to another and prior to going into battle. At the end of the war, captured British soldiers were forced to dance to the tune before being released.
Close to 85 years later music would once again aid America.
General Robert E. Lee remarked, Without music, there would have been no army. In 1862, a reporter for the New York Herald agreed with that assessment when he wrote: All history proves that music is as indispensable to warfare as money.
In his 1966 classic, Lincoln and the Music of the Civil War, Ken Bernard calls the War Between the States a musical war. He points out that in the years preceding the war, singing schools and musical institutes operated in many parts of the country. Band concerts were one of the most popular forms of entertainment and pianos were in the parlors of many homes. Also, sheet music was extremely profitable on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.
It was common during the Civil War for both sides to take songs from the other and change the lyrics to conform to their own particular beliefs. The Battle Cry of Freedom was such a tune. It was a northern song, but the lyrics were altered by the Confederates to echo their own ideology. Still, it is considered by historians to be the favorite song of the war by both sides.
By the way, Yankee Doodle was also used by the North and South in the War between the States. The Confederacy substituted the original title with Dixie Doodle. The popularity of the song would end with the Civil War.
Popular American songs that dealt directly or indirectly with the war going on in Europe were on the market soon after war erupted in 1914. By the time the world-wide pandemic had started and the war was ending, George M. Cohan's, Over There, had become the most lasting WW I song by popularity and sheet music sales.
One of the biggest appeals for funds of its kind happened simultaneously during World War I and the flu epidemic of 1918, and it all came about because of music.
A New York newspaper headline proclaimed, $20 million dollars raised! It was a major fund-raising gala by the Metropolitan Opera and the purpose was to buy war bonds. Donations came from all around the country.
One of the earliest songs during The Great War was, It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary. The song was British and had absolutely nothing to do with war. The tune is actually a funny account of an Irishman alone in London. But, American soldiers and other English-speaking armies sung the song over and over during marches and attacks. It became a rallying cry and motivator heard on many battlefields.
A world-wide economic depression was the first crises excluding a war that was dependent upon music to lift the spirits of the American people.
It was during The Great Depression that music first provided a way for people to agonize over the loss of jobs, poor circumstances, and miserable living conditions. A tune in 1931, Brother Can You Spare a Dime, is credited with raising the tone and giving hope for a future, even though hard times were still ahead and would be for years to come.
Two other songs from the '30s also became tremendously popular and played a role in uniting a dispirited country: Don't Take It Serious, It's Too Mysterious, and We're in the Money. The latter was from the film, Gold Diggers, and was basically saying the future is all blue skies from here on out. By the time the economy was starting to turn around, America was on the brink of another war.
By 1940, over 96 million American households had one or more radios in their home and songs became instantly popular. It was the first conflict in which mass media immediately reached such a huge population.
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is the most definitive song to come out of WW II. Interestingly, the YouTube video of the original version of the song from the Abbott and Costello movie, Buck Privates, has over eight and a half million views.
At the same time the Andrews Sisters had their hit in America, Germany and England made Lil Marlene their number one song. In Germany, over 16 million households had at least one radio in 1914. Soldiers from England heard Lil Marlene so many times, it was finally translated into an English speaking version. The song was used as a motivator by England and for propaganda purposes by the German hierarchy.
Throughout most of these events, comical songs were also a mainstay on the American music scene. During WW I, War in Snider's Grocery Store, and, I'm Glad My Wife's in Europe were tremendously popular on the homefront.
Comedy songs on American radio during World War Two included, Don't Let's be Beastly to the Germans, Stalin wasn't Stallin, and Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major.
There is a debate about which protest song of the 60's best represents the civil protests of that time. Many of the same race issues we face today along with the Vietnam War were front page news in America. Sam Cooke's, A Change is Gonna Come, Sly and the Family Stone's, Everyday People, and Bob Dylan's, Oxford Town, were just a few of the songs which dealt with social injustice.
Almost any Vietnam veteran will say, The Animals, We've Gotta Get Out of This Place, served as the American soldiers Number One song while they served in Vietnam. It was sung in bars, camps, battlefields and anyplace else you would find American forces.
Today, amid the protests calling for racial justice, a world-wide pandemic, political discourse and vitriol, and an unsteady global environment, music is once again in the forefront. Rap songs that deal with race issues are prominent and in some cases serve as an anthem to followers. Other songs lament what has been lost due to events and circumstances beyond anyone's control.
And then, there's Maroon 5's latest hit which could produce an Auld Lang Syne effect on the listener. The song can also be considered a salute to CoVid-19 victims.
Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you
But, wait a minute. Let's go back to the Revolutionary War. Can you even imagine torturing those poor British soldiers by making them dance to Yankee Doodle? We're talking dancing to Yankee Doodle, here! That very well may be more excessive than the old torture rack.
HUH? What's up with that?
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