Inspirations

Yankee Doodle is one of the most popular American patriotic songs, and is also the state song of Connecticut. AND…I was born on the fourth of July, I grew up next to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (a diehard Yankee fan to this day, shhhh, Cubbies too) and I lived in Connecticut so I’m a true Yankee and often thought of as a Doodle too, lol.

However, despite its popularity, it started out as a song that made fun of American troops.

British Origins - Like many of the songs that have become characteristic of American patriotism, the origins of "Yankee Doodle" lie in old English folk music. In this case, kind of humorously, the song emerged before the American Revolution as a vehicle for the British to mock American soldiers. Yankee, of course, began as a negative term making fun of Americans, although the exact origins of the word are debatable. Doodle was a derogatory term that meant "fool" or "simpleton."

The American Revolution - As the Yankees began to take the British in the Revolution, they also took over command of the song, and began singing it as a proud anthem to taunt their English foes. One of the earliest references to the song was from the 1767 opera The Disappointment, and an early printed version of the song dates back to 1775, mocking a U.S. Army official from Massachusetts.

The American Version -Although the exact origins of the tune and original lyrics of Yankee Doodle are unknown (some sources attribute it to Irish or Dutch origin, rather than the British), most historians agree that the American version was written by an English doctor named Dr. Shackburg. According to the Library of Congress, Shackburg wrote the American lyrics in 1755.

The Civil War - Considering the popularity of the melody, new versions evolved throughout America's early years, used to mock various groups. For example, during the Civil War, folks in the South sang lyrics mocking the north, and Union Democrats sang lyrics mocking the South.

Tradition and Tomfoolery - Even though it began as a song mocking American soldiers, "Yankee Doodle" has become a symbol of American pride. The unforgettable melody has been adapted and performed in theater, by big bands, and other variations of musical performances, since its popularization. Nowadays, it's a fun patriotic song, and most people only know a few verses. Read the full lyrics to "Yankee Doodle."