Born In The U. S. A.: The Myths Of America In Popular Music From Colonial Times To The Present (studies In Popular Culture)

This is the first study to explore fully the myth of America as reflected in the nation's popular music. Beginning with the songs of the Pilgrims and continuing through more than two centuries of history and music, Born in the U.S.A. shows the emerging American myth and gives a close reading of the compositions of songwriters as diverse as William Billings, Henry Clay Work, Irving Berlin, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. So that the full and diverse narrative of this complex nation might be recorded, this insightful study is focused both upon the national myth and upon the songwriters and performers representing subcultures and alternative viewpoints that are the text of America's story. Through hymnlike paeans and through discordant lamentations protesting the realities of the contemporary workaday world, popular music is an astonishing mirror of American history.

the Vision Of America Seen Through The Lyrics Of Its Popular Songs

library Journal

the Texts Of Academic Treatises On Popular Culture Often Trivialize Their Subjects. Such Is The Case In This Study By Scheurer (humanities, Franklin Univ.), Who Attempts To Explore The Mythical Image Of America, Using A Theme Of ``manifest Destiny,'' As Promulgated In Popular Music. His Jargon Cohabits Uncomfortably With The Songs He Discusses (e.g., ``the Mytheme Of The Patriot's Sacrifice Has Always Been The Source Of The Regenerative Aspect Of The Myth''). While His Chapters Regarding Pre-1950 Culture Are Interesting, His Hold On The Significance Of Particular Songs Can Be Shaky. He Barely Mentions Barry Mcguire's ``eve Of Destruction,'' (a Pivotal And Number One Song), And Wastes Interpretive Time On Bob Dylan's Novelty ``115th Dream.'' Lacking In Appeal To Popular Music Readers Generally, Scheurer's Study Is Best Suited To Academic Libraries Supporting Extensive American Studies Collections.-- Robert E. Brown, Onondaga Cty. P.l., Syracuse, N.y.

Cover Contents Preface Introduction ONE: "To Thee Sing Psalm Wil I": The Roots of the Myth in Puritan Music TWO: "We Led Fair FREEDOM Hither": The Revolutionary War Era THREE: "From Every Mountainside": From the Revolution to the Outbreak of the Civil War FOUR: "Who Shall Rule This American Nation?": The Civil War Era FIVE: "A Thoroughfare for Freedom Beat": From the End of the Civil War to the End of the Great War SIX: "Of Thee I Sing, Baby": The Tin Pan Alley Years, 1920–1950 SEVEN: "This Land Is Your Land": The Folk-Protest Movement and Other Voices, 1920–1960 EIGHT: "They've All Come to Look for America": The Late 1950s and the 1960s NINE: "You Can't Be Forever Blessed": The 1970s TEN: "Born in the U.S.A.": The 1980s Conclusion Bibliography Discography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Explores the myth of America as reflected in its popular music. Beginning with the songs of the Pilgrims and continuing through more than two centuries of history and music, this book gives a close reading of the compositions of songwriters as diverse as William Billings, Irving Berlin, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.