This is the first book ever to chronicle the origins of our most famous
tune, recognized the world over as "America's Song." The legacy of
"Yankee Doodle" is as rich as the heritage of America, originating in an
ancient folk air brought to the New World by Dutch colonists in the
1600s. A century later, a British officer set his own verses to the
melody, which mocked New England militia. "Yankee Doodle" was despised
by colonials until the Revolution, when it was transformed from a song
of insult into America's most stirring anthem of defiance and of
victory. Illustrated with period art.