19th C. Anti Immigrant Songs

[DocReynolds]

Re: 19th C. Anti Immigrant Songs

There is one in particular I know of that is a Nativist song, focusing on Catholics:
Wide Awake Yankee doodle", It can be found at the Library of Congress American Memory 19th century Songsheets site. Here are the Lyrics:
WIDE AWAKE
YANKEE DOODLE.

BY WM. C. MARION.

Come Uncle Sam, be "Wide Awake,"
Too long you have been sleeping,
Be on your guard, to crush the snake,
That round you has been creeping.
For it has almost charmed your eyes,
To such imprudent blindness,
That it could take you by surprise,
And crush you for your kindness.

Yankee Doodle, Wide Awake,
Be silent you should never,
Until you drive the popish snake,
From off the soil, FOREVER.

Our forefathers were "Wide Awake,"
When liberty was dawning,
They saw what foreigners would take,
And gave us timely warning.
Of foreign influence, beware;
Our Washington has told us,
And time indeed, there's none to spare,
His words they shall embold us.
Yankee Doodle, &c.

Americans should be "Wide Awake,"
For surely you must know,
That for our country's own dear sake,
Each man his worth must show.
For we are free, and wont submit
To intolerance and aggression,
From papists, who from foreign lands
Come here to rule this nation.
Yankee Doodle, &c.

Brave Washington bequeathed to us,
The liberty we enjoy,
Shall we not claim our rights, and thus
Prove worthy, without alloy.
For is he not the father of
The country that we love,
Shall we then stand and blush with shame,
For foreigners who disgrace the same.
Yankee Doodle, &c.



Pete Bedrossian
150th NY/ 3rd NCT

[PetePaolillo]

Re: 19th C. Anti Immigrant Songs

Marvin found this while looking at the darktown comics by Currier and Ives.

'Racial stereotypes were also furthered through the music of this era. Henry Tucker's "The Irishman's Shanty" represents the Irishman as a poor drunkard, living like one of the animals from which he is supposedly evolved. Irish violence and alcoholism are also featured in "Auld Times" at Donnybrook Fair" (undated).'

http://www.albion.edu/library/specialcollections/Exhibits/currier&ives.asp

Henry Tucker's "The Irishman's Shanty"1859

http://pdmusic.org/tucker/ht59tis.mid

Cordially Dedicated to John S. Dickerman of Albany, NY.
"The Irishman's Shanty" (1859)
A Favorite Comic Song With Imitations.
As ]Sung by Matt Peel.
Words and Music by Henry Tucker (1826-1882)

Albany: E. Hobart & Co.
Engd. by Greene & Walker Boston;
Pearson, Eng'r.
[Source: 050/045@Levy]

[NOTE: text delimited by [] is spoken.]

1. Did you ever go in to an Irishman’s shanty?
Ah! there boys you’ll find the whiskey so plenty
With a pipe in his mouth there sits Paddy so free.
No King in his palace is prouder than he.
Hurrah! my honey,
[Now then boys, one for Paddy!]
Whack! Paddy’s the boy.

[CHORUS sung after each VERSE]
Ah! Ah! Ah!
Ah! Ah!

2. There’s a three legged stool and a table to match,
And the door to the shanty is locked with a latch;
There’s a nice feather mattress all bursting with straw,
For the want of a Bedstool, it lies on the floor.
Hurrah! my honey.
[Now then boys, one for the mattress.]
Whack! Paddy’s the boy.

3. There’s a neat little Bureau without paint or gilt,
Made of boards that was left when the shanty was built,
And a three cornered mirror that hangs on the wall,
But divil a picture’s been in a at all.
Hurrah! my honey.
[Now then boys, one for the picture.]
Whack! Paddy’s the boy.

4. He has three rooms in one;
Kitchen, bedroom and hall,
And his chest, it is there, wooden pegs on the wall,
He’s two suits of old clothes, ’tis a wardrobe complete,
One to wear in the shanty, the same in the street.
Hurah! my honey.
[Now then boys, one for the old clothes.]
Whack! Paddy’s the boy.

5. He’s a pig in the sty, and a cow in the stable,
And feeds them on scraps, that’s left from the table,
They get sick if confined, so they roam at their ease,
And go into the shanty whenever they please.
Hurah! my honey.
[Now then boys, one for the pig.]
Whack! Paddy’s the boy.
6. There is one who partakes of his sorrows and joys,
Who attends to the shanty, the girls and the boys;
The brats he thinks more of, than gold that’s refined,
But Biddy’s the jewel that’s set in his mind.
Hurah! my honey.
[Now then boys, one for Biddy.]
Whack! Paddy’s the boy.

[ephraim_zook]

Re: 19th C. Anti Immigrant Songs

I goes to fight mit Siegel is a sarcastic view of the Germans. If you've not heard it, the tune is The Girl I Left Behind.


1. I've come shust now to tells you how
I goes mit regimentals,
To Schlauch dem voes of Liberty,
Like dem ole Continentals
Vot fights mit England, long ago,
To save de Yankee Eagle;
Und now I gets mine sojer clothes,
I'm going to fight mit Sigel.

Chorus:
Ya! Das ist drue, I shpeaks mit you,
I'm going to fight mit Sigel.

2. Ven I comes from de Deutch Countree,
I vorks somedimes at baking;
Den I keeps a lager bier saloon,
Und den I goes shoemaking;
But now I was a sojer been
To save de Yankee Eagle;
To Schlauch dem tam Secession volks,
I'm going to fight mit Sigel.
Chorus:

3. I gets ein tam big rifle guns,
Und puts him to mine shoulder,
Den march so bold, like a big jack-horse,
Und may been someding bolder;
I goes off mit de volunteers,
To save de Yankee Eagle;
To give dem Rebel vellers fits,
I'm going to fight mit Sigel.
Chorus:

4. Dem Deutshen mens mit Sigel's band,
At fighting have no rival;
Un ven Cheff Davis' mens we meet,
Ve Schlauch em like de tuyvil;
Dere's only one ting vot I fear,
Ven pattling for de Eagle;
I vont get not no lager bier,
Ven I goes to fight mit Sigel.
Chorus:

5. For rations dey gives salty pork,
I dinks dat was a great sell;
I petter likes de Sour Kraut,
De Switzer Kaize un Pretzel.
If Fighting Joe (or Liddle Mac.)
Will give us dem,
Ve'll save de Yankee Eagle;
Und I'll put mine Frau in breechaloons,
I'm go un fight mit Sigel.
Chorus:

Ron Myzie

[Val E. Forge]

Re: 19th C. Anti Immigrant Songs

Mr. Corbett,

I do sort of see where you are coming from, but being PC was not an issue for them at that time. As an African American do some period songs offend me yes but I can’t deny that it happened or ask that people not sing them. By doing so you only cover up the ignorance that some of our ancestors including my own believed. And I do thank you for your comment because it is through discourse such as this that ideas are passed wich help us all grow as historians.

Marvin

Mr. Greer:

Extremely well said.