Yankee Doodle Dandy, Not a Patriotic Song?

Updated 2/26/2025                                                              
​                                                               Yankee Doodle Dandy

The song originated in England, denigrating the typical young Englishman that studied at universities in France and came back looking and acting like a “dandy.” A gentleman that dressed to impress. Colonists thought that Londoners overdressed, but the French took it to a new level. So Yankee Doodle originated in England, sung to bring down those too endeared with French society.

The British Army sang this song in the presence of the Colonial militia, to denigrate their American cousins.

In a Freudian form of displacement, this was the origin of the redcoats attitude towards the colonial militia during the French and Indian War.  Initially, we fought alone against the French intruders and Indian mercenaries. After two years, England joined us and was instrumental in successfully winning the war, though it costs each side dearly.  In the end, peace, and the British conquered all of Canada. While we fought on the same side with similar objectives, the eventual success of the nine years of war taught us that we had grown far apart.

The irritants between allies centered on such silly things as uniforms, marching style, and discipline. On the critical level, rank and leadership issues were totally opposite.  We elected our regimental leaders.   Battle plans were to be understood at all levels.  Unfortunately, the British officers were of a certain class and wealth that seemed to breed arrogance.  They expected their decisions to be followed, not revised or questioned.  “Therein lies the rub”[i]. We would arrive late to the battle, have no idea of the strategy of the moment, and fight more like Indians than Europeans.

Back to the song!

                                      Yankee Doodle went to town
                                      A-riding on a pony
                                      He stuck a feather in his hat
                                      And called it macarony

            Chorus:
                                      Yankee Doodle, keep it up
                                        Yankee Doodle dandy
                                        Mind the music and the step
                                        and with the girls be handy!
                                        Father and I went down to camp
                                      Along with Captain Gooding
                                      And there we saw the men and boys
                                      As thick as hasty pudding.

            Chorus
                                      And there was Captain Washington
                                      And gentle folks about him
                                      They say he’s grown so tarnal proud
                                      He will not ride without them.

A more mature insulting English version can be found online.

The British Army came to town  (Boston) on October 1, 1768, landing at Long Wharf, to occupy Boston and help the new customs officials collect taxes. As the Brits disembarked on Long Wharf, they launched into their many verses of Yankee Doodle Dandy.  Sam Adams’ had prepared the locals for this confrontational moment. His orders, were to ignore the redcoats. We hear that the Redcoats came expecting a rebellion. They were most disappointed. 

The dock workers and non-combatants were bewildered by the verses. The local citizens, especially young adolescents, found it all very peculiar. But the insult was tucked away for future use.

Upon our great victory over Burgoyne on October 7, 1777, at Saratoga New York, the remnants of the British and Hessian armies had to march out and lay down their arms. In perfect harmony, the Continental Army and militias serenaded the Brits with their home-grown insults.

In elementary school, we learned this giddy song but never quite understood the patriotic fervor entwined in its new verses.


            
[i] Hamlet by William Shakespeare