The History of American Anthems.
The term 'anthem' encompasses a wide range of musical styles, from traditional country and western to Cajun and Zydeco and Appalachian music to the songs of the urban diaspora. Academically and within the tradition of American folk music, an anthem is a song that uses traditional melodies and/or modes to speak about a particular subject. Often, topical anthems relate to social and political issues such as work, war and public opinion, although not all folk songs are current or political. Some are personal gossip or ballads about family stories, love songs, or even nonsensical songs.
Anthems
Many anthems have been around for so long that no one is sure who their composers were. Often these numbers are passed on within a community and evolve over time to address the problems of the day. Such songs include “We Shall Overcome” as well as other spirituals and empowerment anthems. Other timeless folk songs have a solid origin, such as Woody Guthrie's “This Land is Your Land” or “If I Had A Hammer” by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays . These songs are often so poignant, honest and timeless, they get caught up in the culture and are familiar to just about everyone.
