Probably dating to the mid 18th century 'Yankee Doodle' was originally sung by British soldiers to mock the 'Yankees' in the pre-revolutionary age. It then gradually morphed into an American song of defiance, with added verses that mocked British troops. And the Americans sung it with gusto when Lord Cornwallis surrendered on behalf of Britain to George Washington at Yorktown in 1781.
Did you know 'Yankee doodle' is the state anthem of Connecticut?
What does Yankee Doodle mean?
Apparently Yankee means contempt and doodle means lowly provincial person, so we can guess the Brits weren't being complementary about their enemy in the American War of Independence - but then the tables turned!
We named 'Yankee Doodle' one of America's best patriotic songs
'Yankee Doodle' lyrics
Yankee Doodle went to town A-riding on a pony, Stuck a feather in his cap And called it macaroni.
[Chorus] Yankee Doodle keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy, Mind the music and the step, And with the girls be handy.
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]
And there we saw a thousand men As rich as Squire David, And what they wasted every day, I wish it could be savèd.
[Chorus]
The 'lasses they eat every day, Would keep a house a winter; They have so much, that I'll be bound, They eat it when they've a mind to.
[Chorus]
And there I see a swamping[b] 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, And 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 again, I thought the deuce was in him.
[Chorus]
Cousin Simon grew so bold, I thought he would have cocked it; It scared me so I shrinked it off And hung by father's pocket.
[Chorus]
And Cap'n Davis had a gun, He kind of clapt his hand on't And stuck a crooked stabbing iron Upon the little end on't
[Chorus]
And there I see a pumpkin shell As big as mother's basin, And every time they touched it off They scampered like the nation.
[Chorus]
I see a little barrel too, The heads were made of leather; They knocked on it with little clubs And called the folks together.
[Chorus]
And there was Cap'n Washington, And gentle folks about him; They say he's grown so 'tarnal proud He will not ride without 'em.
[Chorus]
He got him on his meeting clothes, Upon a slapping stallion; He sat the world along in rows, In hundreds and in millions.
[Chorus]
The flaming ribbons in his hat, They looked so tearing fine, ah, I wanted dreadfully to get To give to my Jemima.
[Chorus]
I see another snarl of men A-digging graves, they told me, So 'tarnal long, so 'tarnal deep, They 'tended they should hold me.
[Chorus]
It scared me so, I hooked it off, Nor stopped, as I remember, Nor turned about till I got home, Locked up in mother's chamber.
[Chorus]
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