Yankee

This was answered by a fierce volley from the British, and when the army passed on, they left eight brave farmer-soldiers dead upon the green.

Then on the troops marched straight to Concord, their band playing Yankee Doodle, a song which had been composed by them to deride the colonists.

Play Yankee Doodle, you old lobster-backs, cried some boys from behind a fence, but look out, Lord Percy, that you don't play Chevy Chase when you come back.

Now, as it happens that Chevy Chase was an old song of a battle in which this very Lord Percy's ancestors had figured, and had been defeated, you can imagine the young officer didn't enjoy the boy's joke very well.

Especially when some of his fellow officers, who could appreciate a good joke, even if they couldn't appreciate the courage of the colonists, joined in the laugh against him.

OF AMERICAN HISTORY STORIES VOLUME II.

by mara l pratt chapter thirteen words only to the song the origin of yankee doodle music may be found in the text once on a time old johnny bull flew in a raging fury and said that jonathan should have no trial sir by jury that no election should be held across the briny waters and now said he i'll tax the tea of all his sons and daughters then down he sate in burly state and blustered like a grandy and in the derision made a tune called yankee doodle dandy yankee doodle dandy these are facts yankee doodle dandy my son of wax your tea i'll tax yankee doodle dandy john sent the tea from o'er the sea with heavy duties rated but whether hyson or bohee i never heard it stated Then Jonathan to pout began, He laid a strong embargo, I'll drink no tea by Jove, So he threw overboard the cargo.

Then Johnny sent a regiment, Big words and looks to Bandy, Whose marshal band when near the land Played Yankee Doodle Dandy.