The Lees of Old Virginia

"The Lees of Old Virginia" is another song from the musical "1776" by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone. John Adams and Benjamin Franklin have come to Richard Henry Lee to ask him to gather support for independence in Virginia and bring back of formal resolution for independence. Lee sings enthusiastically about his confidence in being able to accomplish this.


Lyrics:
Lee:
My name is Richard Henry Lee; Virginia is my home
My name is Richard Henry Lee; Virginia is my home
And my horses turn to glue if I can't deliver
Unto you a resolution on independency!
For I am FFV, the first family
In the sovereign colony of Virginia
Yes I am FFV, the oldest family
in the oldest colony in America
And may the British burn my land if I can't deliver
To your hand a resolution on independency!
You see it's here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
And everywhere-a-Lee-a-Lee
Social-Lee, political-Lee, financial-Lee, natural-Lee
Internal-Lee, external-Lee, fraternal-Lee, eternal-Lee
The FFV, the first family
In the sovereign colony of Virginia
And may my wife refuse my bed if I can't deliver
As I said a resolution on independency
They say that God in heaven is everybody's God
I'll admit that God in heaven is everybody's God
But I tell you, John, with pride, God leans
A little on the side of the Lees, the Lees of old Virgina!
You see it's here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
And everywhere-a-Lee-a-Lee
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
And everywhere-a-Lee
Look out! There's Arthur Lee, Bobby Lee
And General Lighthorse Harry Lee
Willy Lee, Jesse Lee

Franklin:
And Richard H.!

Lee:
That's me!
And may my blood start running blue if I can't deliver
Unto you a resolution on independency!
Yes sir, by God, it's here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee
Come on boys join in with me!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!

Franklin:
When do you leave?
Lee:
Immediate-Lee!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!

Franklin:
When will you return?

Lee:
Short-Lee!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!
And I'll come back triumphant-Lee!
Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee!
Everywhere a-Lee-a-Lee
Forward ho!

Questions:
  1. Vocabulary to Define: sovereign, internally, externally, fraternally,
  2. What is Richard Henry Lee’s contribution to independence?
  3. Using this song as evidence, why might the characters have specifically sought out Richard Henry Lee?
  4. How does the music contribute to the mood of this song?
  5. Characterize Richard Henry Lee. Give at least three characteristics with quotes from this song to support these characteristics.
  6. Using this song and your knowledge of Social Studies, how important was Richard Henry Lee to independence?

Extra:
If you've finished looking at both videos, you may enjoy watching the scene of this song from the movie version of "1776"


No comments:

Post a Comment