War Songs and Drinking Songs, Then and Now....

War songs started as early as the 1700s, typically anti-war and used in many peace protests. Some of this country's most famous songs were created as either a protest to a war we were fighting, or as a victory song after the conclusion of a war. In 1861, William Steffe and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which became particularly popular for all US citizens during the Civil War. But not all war songs were soft and serious- some were downright humorous, in order to make the soldiers smile. Songs like, "Pack Up Your Troubles" helped US soldiers get through World War I, reminding them of home and giving them a positive outlook on the war, and "Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major" was a British soldier song, written in 1939, mocking their officers: "Don't forget to wake me in the morning, and bring me 'round a nice hot cup of tea. Kiss me goodnight, Sergeant-MajorSergeant-Major, be a mother to me!"

Drinking songs were very popular in the 1800s, and many of our present-day hymns, and even our national anthem, were taken from the tunes of drinking songs. "The Star Spangled Banner" was set to the tune of a popular British drinking song, written by John Stafford Smith, and The lyrics come from a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key. "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" was an American drinking song, written in between World War I & II, and was later used as inspiration for the cartoon, "Popeye the Sailor Man" (the first link takes you to a video of the actual song, the second to the episode of "Popeye" that uses the song).

Times of war were hard for people in America, and people all over the world. They found a way to release their stresses, joys, and frustrations in writing music. I'd say we still do this today, just in different ways. "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning," written by country singer Alan Jackson, was a direct response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, when the US declared war against Afghanistan, and I would say it is a modern-day war song. It was a different world back in the 18th and 19th centuries, and even in the early 1900s. A lot has changed since those times. But one thing that has stayed the same is the power of music to help people carry on through whatever their country is going through, together.

Playlist: Songs 152-155