Early Colonial Songs
During most of the 1600's, the music of the colonies, both instrumental and vocal, came from Europe: Holland, France, Spain, and Great Britain. But, soon, the colonials began to add their own variations into the songs. Music in churches was largely restricted to Psalms, but religious-themed music (what we today tend to term Gospel music) did exist. Again, most of the lyrics and tunes came from Europe. Below we begin to see a new voice coming into existence. As colonists faced new environments and concerns, they adapted with good humor and ingenuity. Just as the poetry of Anne Bradstreet shows that the setting of America was different, and a new beginning was coming and outlooks of the colonials were growing away from their British roots.
During most of the 1600's, the music of the colonies, both instrumental and vocal, came from Europe: Holland, France, Spain, and Great Britain. But, soon, the colonials began to add their own variations into the songs. Music in churches was largely restricted to Psalms, but religious-themed music (what we today tend to term Gospel music) did exist. Again, most of the lyrics and tunes came from Europe. Below we begin to see a new voice coming into existence. As colonists faced new environments and concerns, they adapted with good humor and ingenuity. Just as the poetry of Anne Bradstreet shows that the setting of America was different, and a new beginning was coming and outlooks of the colonials were growing away from their British roots.
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Forefathers’ Song (1630)
New England’s annoyances you that would know them, Pray ponder these verses which briefly doth show them. The place where we live is a wilderness wood, Where grass is much wanting that’s fruitful and good: Our mountains and hills and our valleys below, Being commonly covered with ice and with snow; And when the north-west wind with violence blows, Then every man pull his cap over his nose: But if any’s so hardy and will it withstand, He forfeits a finger, a foot, or a hand. But when the Spring opens we then take the hoe, And make the ground ready to plant and to sow; Our corn being planted and seed being sown, The worms destroy much before it is grown; And when it is growing, some spoil there is made By birds and by squirrels that pluck up the blade; And when it is come to full corn in the ear, It is often destroyed by raccoon and by deer. And now our garments begin to grow thin, And wool is much wanted to card and to spin; If we can get a garment to cover without, Our other in-garments are clout upon clout: Our clothes we brought with us are apt to be torn, They need to be clouted soon after they’re worn, But clouting our garments they hinder us nothing, Clouts double are warmer than single whole clothing. |
If fresh meat be wanting to fill up our dish We have carrots and turnips as much as we wish: And if there’s a mind for a delicate dish We repair to the clam-banks, and there we catch fish. Instead of pottage and puddings and custards and pies, Our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies; We have pumpkins at morning and pumpkins at noon, If it was not for pumpkins we should be undone! If barley be wanting to make into malt, We must be contented, and think it no fault; For we make liquor to sweeten our lips, Of pumpkins and parsnips and walnut-tree chips.... Now while some are going let others be coming, For while liquor’s boiling it must have a scumming; But I will not blame them, for birds of a feather By seeking their fellows are flocking together. But you whom the Lord intends hither to bring, Forsake not the honey for fear of the sting; But bring both a quiet and contented mind, And all needful blessing you surely will find. clout- archaic: to patch, mend Source: The Annuals of America: 1493-1754, Discovering a New World. Vol. I. Mortimer Adler, Ed. London: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1976. Print. |
By the 1680's, the colonies were booming from massive immigration, hard work, available land on the Frontier, and European investments. Generations were born in America and began to feel distinctions from the the mother countries. Great Britain expected the colonials to defend themselves since the colonials themselves had already begun to form local militias, primarily seen as defense against Indian and French or Spanish colonial attacks. These militiamen were expected to provide their own clothing, gun, powder and shot, and their own horses. The following song is one of those situation comic songs that were growing throughout the English-speaking colonies. Notice the use of the banjo. Originally a type of African stringed instrument, the "banja," the banjo (note the name) was changed in structure and into the even-tempered 12-note chromatic (the do-re-me system) format used to this day. The banjo, like many other things, became Americanized, and it is now considered one of the first American musical instruments.
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Soldier will you Marry Me
Soldier, soldier, will you marry me, With your musket, fife and drum? Oh, how can I marry such a pretty girl as you, When I have no hat to put on? Off to the haberdasher she did go, As fast as she could run, Bought him a hat, the best that was there, And the soldier put it on. Soldier, soldier, will you marry me, With your musket, fife and drum? Oh, how can I marry such a pretty girl as you, When I have no coat to put on? Off to the tailor she did go, As fast as she could run, Bought him a coat, the best that was there, And the soldier put it on. Soldier, soldier, will you marry me, With your musket, fife and drum? Oh, how can I marry such a pretty girl as you, When I have no boots to put on? Off to the cobbler she did go, As fast as she could run, Bought him a pair of the best that was there, And the soldier put them on. |
Soldier, soldier, will you marry me, With your musket, fife and drum? Oh, how can I marry such a pretty girl as you, When I have no pants to put on? Off to the tailor she did go, As fast as she could run, Bought him a pair, the best that was there, And the soldier put them on. Soldier, soldier, will you marry me, With your musket, fife and drum? Well, how can I marry such a pretty girl as you, With a wife and three kids back home? From Colonial and Revolution Songbook Keith and Rusty McNeil |
