Ann Zimmerman

For the third time this school year, fifth graders heard and sang along with songs Americans were singing with each other more than two hundred years ago. In this school program, "Songs of the American Revolution," I tell the story of the seven long years of the war, from the Boston Massacre in 1770 to the British surrender at Yorktown in 1777. Together we sang--in between stories of the war--my new favorite folk song, "Katy Cruel," along with the sad waiting song, "Buttermilk Hill" (also called "Siuil A Ruin" for its Gaelic chorus), "The Riflemen at Bennington," "Alouette" (in French - to remind us that our friends the French were decisive in the British defeat), "The World Turned Upside Down" which the British band played at the surrender ceremony, and "Yankee Doodle," the cheerful song played by the U.S. band at the same event. I was lucky for this final presentation of the year to have ample time for questions at the end of the show, and ask they did - good, thoughtful questions that had me digging deep for good answers. Thanks to the teachers and to the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission. This Oakdale Elementary School performance was videod by David Hawksworth, so parts of it may appear soon on YouTube.