Sweet Freedom's Song

A musical adventure through America as a land of songs, uncovering how American identity and values are found in popular and folk music.Michael Lasser cuts across a wide swath of history and people, from "e;This Land Is My Land"e; to Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon, and shows how songs that help to shape and reflect American attitudes possess, at the very least, an element of patriotism.Lasser writes about "e;Yankee Doodle"e; as the country's first important patriotic song and looks at its recurrence over the next two centuries. He covers protest songs as a form of patriotic expression; songs from African American people, including as slaves and as free people; and songs of women's suffrage. On the flip side, he also critically analyzes racist, ethnic, and anti-immigrant songs. While the book celebrates America's successes, it does not shrink from its flaws and failures. Lasser turns America into a land of songs, taking readers on an exciting ride through the nation, its history, and its people.