Songs Inspired Patriotism During American Revolutionary War

View Online Songs Inspired Patriotism During American Revolutionary War May 22, 2026 | By David Vergun Music has a way of uniting people and generations, and the American Revolutionary War was no different, as it was often used to boost morale for both the Continental Army and British troops. Many of that era's most popular patriotic songs were originally religious hymns adapted for the war effort or original sacred compositions that took on a military character. As America celebrates 250 years of freedom, here is a look back at a few of the many songs that inspired the birth of a nation.  "Yankee Doodle"  Perhaps the most well-known song still sung today is "Yankee Doodle." It was originally sung by British military officers to mock the American service members they served with during the French and Indian War. Written by British Army surgeon Richard Shuckburgh while campaigning in New York, circa 1755, the song was embraced by American troops, who added verses to it that mocked the British and hailed their commander, Continental Army Gen. George Washington. By 1781, "Yankee Doodle" had become a song of national pride among Americans.   The song begins with/Yankee Doodle went to town/A-riding on a pony/Stuck a feather in his cap/And called it macaroni.  The term macaroni was used to describe a fashionable man who dressed and spoke in an outlandishly affected and effeminate manner. The American version was written in 1776 by Edward Bangs, a Minuteman, and was played during the British surrender following the Battle of Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777, in New York. "Yankee Doodle" was revived by George M. Cohan to create the patriotic song, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" for his 1904 Broadway musical "Little Johnny Jones." In 1942, the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy," about the life of Cohan, starred James Cagney, for which he won an Oscar. The song "Yankee Doodle" was adopted as Connecticut's official state anthem in 1978.  "Chester"  The unofficial anthem of the American cause, William Billings' "Chester," was immensely popular during the war. It encouraged the patriots to be strong, because God was standing on their side against the British tyrants, which is heard in these lyrics:  When God inspir'd us for the fight/ Their ranks were broke, their lines were forc'd/ Their ships were shatter'd in our sight/ Or swiftly driven from our coast.  Billings, a Boston native, was America's first choral composer. Chester is an old Latin word for military camp. The song was the first truly patriotic song with both the tune and lyrics written by an American in the American colonies.  "Liberty Song"  The "Liberty Song" was an early American patriotic ballad composed by John Dickinson, a founding father. It is often attributed as the origin of the phrase: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall."   The song was one of the first to circulate within the 13 colonies and is thought to have fostered a sense of shared identity and resistance among the colonists. It includes the following lyrics:  Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all/ By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall/ In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed/ For heaven approves of each generous deed.  The 1969 song, "United We Stand" by Brotherhood of Men, was a romantic ballad that took some inspiration from "Liberty Song" with the lyric, "united we stand, divided we fall." Despite the romantic connotations, the song became a rallying cry for the Vietnam War based on these lyrics:   For united we stand, divided we fall/ And if our backs should ever be against the wall/ We'll be together, together, you and I.  "Free America"  Joseph Warren, a member of the Sons of Liberty, wrote "Free America" to the tune of "The British Grenadiers," inspiring many colonists to volunteer for the cause of freedom during the Revolutionary War with the following words:   Torn from a world of tyrants/ Beneath this western sky/ We formed a new dominion/ A land of liberty/ The world shall own we're freemen here/ And such will ever be/ Huzza, huzza, huzza/ For love and liberty.  "The World Turned Upside Down"  The song "The World Turned Upside Down" is a 17th-century British ballad written to protest the Puritan banning of traditional Christmas celebrations. It is thought to have been played by the British Army band when they surrendered after the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, though there is no historical evidence that it actually happened. The lyrics include the following:   Listen to me and you shall hear, news hath not been this thousand year/Since Herod, Caesar, and many more, you never heard the like before/Holy-dayes are despis'd, new fashions are devis'd/Old Christmas is kickt out of Town/Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.  If the song title seems familiar, it is because the words gained new popularity more than 300 years after they were first written, when Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote his 2015 Broadway musical, Hamilton.  Near the end of the first act, "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" recaps the historic Battle of Yorktown:  We negotiate the terms of surrender/I see George Washington smile/We escort their men out of Yorktown/They stagger home single file/Tens of thousands of people flood the streets/There are screams and church bells ringing/And as our fallen foes retreat/I hear the drinking song they're singing/The world turned upside down.

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Week in Photos Discover the latest on DOW's missions, milestones and people through this curated collection of top photos. View Photos All Photo Collections

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Hantavirus threat raises concern across Africa | ATM 2026 moves to September

Investec targets wealthy clients in SA, UK

AFRICA Fri 22 May 2026 ALL INDUSTRIES  | COMPANIES  | JOBS  | EVENTS  | SUBMIT NEWS  | ADVERTISE  | FOLLOW  | MY ACCOUNT  | SUBSCRIBE  |  UNSUBSCRIBE Hantavirus in Africa: why climate change, rats and weak surveillance are worrying scientists WOLFGANG PREISER, CARLA MAVIAN, CHERYL BAXTER, RICHARD LESSELLS AND TULIO DE OLIVEIRA Scientists argue that hantaviruses might pose a much bigger threat to African countries than is currently known... Read more Arabian Travel Market 2026 moves to September dates  read Investec ramps up fight for wealthy clients in South Africa and UK NQOBILE DLUDLA AND LULAH DUBE  read Warc identifies 8 blockers to advertising effectiveness There is a persistent “say-do gap” in advertising: most marketers understand the theory of effectiveness, but find it difficult to put into practice... Read It’s bleak street in SA mining as rising fuel price starts to take its toll MAROEFAH SMITH Mining production performed dismally in March 2026 compared to January (4.6%) and February (9.7%)... Read Building collapse kills at least 4 people in Morocco's Fez AHMED ELJECHTIMI A building collapse in Fez killed four people, injured six, and renewed concerns over thousands of unsafe structures across Morocco... Read Featured Press Office of the day More   |   Join Africa L&D Conference The Africa L&D Conference is the premier gathering of professionals, policymakers, educators, HR leaders, and innovators dedicated to workplace learning, skills development, and talent transformation across Africa. Contact  |  News  |  VISIT PRESS OFFICE  |  @LnDAfricaConf  |  Linkedin  |  Facebook Jobs offered View jobs Submit a job New events to diarise 6th Annual GBVF, Mental Health & Substance Abuse in the Workplace Conference Intelligence Transfer Centre - 15 Jul 2026 to 16 Jul 2026, Johannesburg More Events  Submit an event  Customise events FOLLOW US List company List CV List new business List portfolio showcase List profile Submit event Submit gallery Submit job ad Submit new appointment Submit news Submit noticeboard Submit op-ed contribution Home My job ads My events My company My CV Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email sales and read more about our advertising rates 3rd Floor, 62 Roeland St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. Tel +27 (0)21 404 1460 © 2026 bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe. Manage subscription. Subscribe. Change email. Change frequency to WEEKLY.

Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al. Pre-Trial Hearing

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al. Pre-Trial Hearing May 22, 2026 The Department of War invites media to cover pre-trial proceedings in the case of United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin 'Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, scheduled for August 24-28, 2026. The defendants are charged in connection with their alleged roles in the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States.  The proceedings will be conducted at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba and will be transmitted to a closed-circuit television site at Ft. Meade, Md. Media choosing to travel to NSGB will pay round-trip airfare ($800); coverage window is determined by flight schedule. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration. The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo Bay topics unrelated to the military commissions - such as the naval base facilities or personnel - must be coordinated in advance. Coverage window, including travel days: •    August 22-29 Registration: Click here for registration. Please select the “Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al” case from the drop-down selection on the registration form. Enter the specific dates requested as outlined above. Deadline: All requests must be received no later than noon EDT, Friday, May 29. Additional details of travel logistics will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process, and the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) will contact the media to assist in travel preparation. CCTV Site: Media desiring to view this hearing from the media-designated viewing site at Fort Meade, Md., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information. Contact Mr. Ron Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713.  Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil.

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