For enthusiasts of early banjo

Tune to fit verse

I'm looking for help. Here is one of eight verses from a song sheet which has to do with the election of 1824 or 28. No tune is offered, however, and I would like to find one that is period-appropriate and have, up to this point, failed. I think it needs a 20 or 40 bar melody.

It was November, the fourth day

Some Jackson men did fire away

Some powder they obtain'd that day

To pass a pleasant hour away

But hark to the conclusion:

'Twas when they let a cannon fly,

then up went rockets in the sky

Huzza! for Jackson was the cry

But Adams men a standing by,

Pronounc'd it all confusion.

Any suggestions?

Furthermore, does anyone have suggestions where I might find popular melodies which may have been used for mid-19th C parodies? I know about the Levy Collection, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Al Smitley on April 29, 2013 at 11:05am

Oops! I didn't realize that it would format that way. I guess you would have to click on the topic to see the verses as they are seen in print.

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Permalink Reply by Wes Merchant on April 30, 2013 at 5:25pm

Howe's 1000 Jigs and Reels,Clog Dances,Contra Dance....... has a lot of song tunes in it. O'Neills Music of Ireland and his other collections have a section of airs that include some popular 19th century melodies. Many of the old violin tutors I've seen also include sections of songs. It seems to that perhaps this could be sung to Hunters of Kentucky, with the last line either spoken (I have seen that noted in old books) or perhaps repeated.

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