Music for Patriots, Politicians, and Presidents: Harmonies and Discords of the First Hundred Years

479 pp. "...lyrics from pre-Revolution resistance to post-Civil War Reconstruction, covering nearly every important issue and event in the history of that period: the Constitution, presidential campaigns, battles, defeats, heroes, villains, slavery, abolition, and even women's rights. Accompanying each song--many of which are facsimiles of the original music pages is Ms. Lawrence's informative and witty commentary. Contemporary documentary material gives enlightening historical background and explains the incidents and personalities that inspired the song text."--jacket