Sweet Freedom's Song: "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and Democracy in AmericaAlthough it isn't the official national anthem, America may be the most important and interesting patriotic song in our national repertoire. Sweet Freedom's Song: "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and Democracy in America is a celebration and critical exploration of the complicated musical, cultural and political roles played by the song America over the past 250 years. Popularly known as My Country 'Tis of Thee and as God Save the King/Queen before that this tune has a history as rich as the country it extols. In Sweet Freedom's Song, Robert Branham and Stephen Hartnett chronicle this song's many incarnations over the centuries. Colonial Americans, Southern slaveowners, abolitionists, temperance campaigners and labor leaders, among others, appropriated and adapted the tune to create anthems for their own struggles. Because the song has been invoked by nearly every grassroots movement in American history, the story of America offers important insights on the story of democracy in the United States. An examination of America as a historical artifact and cultural text, Sweet Freedoms Song is a reflection of the rebellious spirit of Americans throughout our nations history. The late Robert James Branham and his collaborator, Stephen Hartnett, have produced a thoroughly-researched, delightfully written book that will appeal to scholars and patriots of all stripes. |
Contents
THREE Bombast Fraud Deception Impiety and Hypocrisy | |
Postmodernity | |
My Country Tis of Thee Organized Chronologically | |
Selective List of Alternative American | |
Index | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abolitionists African American alternate versions American Revolution antebellum antislavery audience bands Banner Beecher Boston British celebrations ceremonies choir Civil collection comp Confederate Country Tis cultural democracy Douglass emancipation example flag Foner Fourth of July freedom freedpersons George Gilmore History Independence John July Fourth Labor land of liberty Liberator Lincoln Lowell Mason Lyman Beecher Massachusetts melody Music for Patriots national anthem national hymn National Peace Jubilee national songs observed orators organizations Park Street Church parody patriotic songs performed political popular public schools published quoted reform reprinted revolutionary rhetorical Sabbath School sang Save the King Save the Queen singers slavery slaves Smith Smith’s America social Society soldiers song’s songbooks Songster Star-Spangled Banner sung Sweet land temperance activists temperance movement thee I sing Tis of Thee tune of America Union University Press verse versions of America voice Washington William Lloyd Garrison women’s suffrage Woodbridge York