Every once in a while our national
song, “Yankee Doodle,” is the cause
of a spirited dispute among those who
search after the origin of such things.
Such a controversy is on just at pres
ent, and it is reviving <ome interesting
history about that old-fashioned tune.
From the best theories that can b.'
formed it is probable that “Yankee
Doodle” first came from Holland. In
the low countries of that kingdom there
has long been a long which the har
vesters sang, illustrating the fact that
buttermilk and one-tenth of the grain
they gathered was given as the price ol
their labor. It runs thus:
Tanker dideU doodel down.
DideL dudel lautcr.
Yanko viver, roover vown.
Botermilk und Tanther.
The air to which these words were
sung was afterwards carried to En
gland and applied to words written in
derision of Cromwell almost exactly as
they are‘known in this country and
named “Nankee Doodle.” The song
was brought to this land soon after the
landing of our forefathers, and was
known as “Lydia Fisher's Jig.” In
1775 thf regular troops, while the Con
tinental Congress was discussing the
question of separating from the mother
country, used to sing the a : r to soeh
verses as those;
•• Nankee Doodle came to town.
For to buy a firelock:
We will tar and ImSkt him.
And so we will John Hancock-"
It was not adopted by the American;
as a familiar air until after the battles ol
Concord and Lexington, when the brig
ade under Lord Percy marched out ol
Boston, playing, by way of contempt
“Lydia Fisher s Jig.” or what is i*W
known as “Yankee Doodle. '— Philo
ileJjikia Times.
