The history of the United States is indelibly wrapped in the music that defines it. The two are inseparable, interwoven, making the texture of the history of our nation colorful and more defined when the music is studied along with the history of the country.
That was the idea behind "Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest and the Music That Made A Nation" by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw, hatched over a chat in the backyard.
We know the songs of the nation, the patriotic songs, such as "America the Beautiful," "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)" and of course the "Star-Spangled Banner." What is the story behind the songs? What was going on in our nation to inspire them and make them catch on, stay prominent? What of other songs associated with our country such as "Dixie," "Yankee Doodle," "Lift Every Voice and Sing?"
Meacham and McGraw set out to answer these questions and many more, taking us era by era and studying the songs of those times, the story behind them and how they shaped our nation. Jon Meacham contributes the bulk of the book drawing on his research skills and previous books on American history. McGraw offers snippets of insight from a performer's perspective.
The book begins with the time period before the Revolutionary War and continues on through present day. It highlights those times in our country where music brought us together, like the songs of World War II. The book also looks at those protest songs that clearly articulated what was dividing us, like the songs from the era of the Vietnam War, and the inspiring songs that gave us hope of a better day during the Civil Rights Movement.
Following the timeline of our history, this book explores the songs that influenced the times and make the history come alive. The overture of the book states that mission:
" To hear the music that has lifted us from danger, kept us together amid tragedy, united us anew in triumph, and urged us on toward justice. From our earliest times to our latest, we hear not only the spoken but the sung word, and the music of the nation reminds us where we've been, who we are - and what we can become."
This book truly completes this mission.
Lisa Cartee is the children's clerk at the Missouri River Regional Library.