Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1820-1860
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Humor
"Nothing to Wear." The male composer
of this song poked fun at women who
claimed they had nothing to wear. Do
you think people today would find this
song humorous? Why or why not?
Humor is a popular art form that often appears in song. For example, "California as It Is, Comic Song" poked fun at "Argonauts" who ventured to California in search of gold in 1849.
"I've been to California and I haven't got a dime,
I've lost my health, my strength, my hope and I've lost my time,
I've only got a spade and pick and if I felt quite brave,
I'd use the two of them 'ere things scoop me out a grave..."
Satirical or humorous ballads often made light of serious issues, such as temperance and women's rights, as well as everyday problems. For example, the comic song "The Tee-To-Tal Society" takes on temperance while "Hard Times, a Comic Song" lampoons cheating bakers, butchers, and lawyers as well as gender relations.
Conduct a Keyword Search using the word comic for additional humorous songs. Study several of the songs and answer the following questions:
- On what topics are the songwriters using humor to comment?
- What techniques do the songwriters use to poke fun or satirize the topics?
- Are the songs still amusing today? Why or why not? What does this say about both issues and humor in the United States?