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Jackson’s Victory (Eighth of January)
Old-time breakdown, widely known.
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes; DATE: 1800’s.
RECORDING INFO: Anderson, Bob; and the Country Ramblers. Indiana Hoedown, Puritan 5003, LP (1973), cut#B.02 . Arkansas Barefoot Boys. Echoes of the Ozarks, Vol. 1, County 518, LP (1977), cut# 5. Cedar Point String Band. Cedar Point String Band, Roane, Cas (1993), cut# 4 . Claunch, W. E.. Anglo-American Shanties, Lyric Songs, Dance Tunes & Spirituals, Library of Congress AAFS L 2, LP (195?), cut# 14 . Free State Ramblers. 38th Annual Galax Old Fiddlers Convention, 1973, Gazette 38, LP (1973), cut# 14 Walters, Bob. Drunken Wagoner, MSOTFA 106, Cas (1993), cut#A.01
OTHER NAMES: Eighth of January; Ninth of January; Battle of New Orleans
RELATED TO: Old Jake Gillie ;
SOURCES: Traditional Music in America, Folklore Associates, Bk (1940/1965), p 63a Kaufman, Alan. Beginning Old-time Fiddle, Oak, sof (1977), p39. Krassen, Miles. Appalachian Fiddle, Oak, sof (1973), p50
NOTES: On January 8, 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson led a small, poorly-equipped army to victory against eight thousand British troops at the Battle of New Orleans. The victory made Jackson a national hero. The anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans was widely celebrated with parties and dances during the nineteenth century, especially in the South. A traditional fiddle tune commemorating the event came to be known as "Jackson's Victory" or "The Eighth of January."
For additional info and tunes see: “Battle of New Orleans” and “Eighth of January”. Here are the lyrics to "Jackson's Victory:"
1. Come, all you brave Americans, don't let us disagree,
Come, listen to my story, and plainly you shall see;
We are the brave Americans, that never fear'd the foe,
Brought on by General Jackson, you very well do know.
Chorus:So cheer up my lively lads, and never have it said,
That the free sons of America were ever yet afraid.
2. 'Twas on the tenth of October, the morning being clear,
We espied a famous army of British Grenadiers;
At one o'clock we fired a shot, and they return'd the same,
Fight on, my boys, says Jackson, for now begins the game.
Chorus:
3. At one o'clock, my brave boys, the battle did begin,
And in two hours after, the battle we did win;
'Twas with our glit'ring broad-swords, we cut & slash'd the foe,
While Jackson, he commanded, and bid us where to go.
Chorus:
4. The plains they were all cover'd with the wounded and slain,
Three hundred of their best men lay dead upon the plain;
The rest run to the mountains as fast as they could fly;
Cheer up my brave Americans, we've gain'd the victory.
Chorus:
5. Here's a health to General Jackson, also, to all his men,
To soldiers and officers, who did so bravely stand;
To officers and soldiers, who caus'd the foe to flee,
It's our delight, brave boys, to fight for Jackson and liberty.
Chorus:
6. Come, all you brave Americans, the wars are now all o'er,
We've fought and gain'd our liberty as many have before;
With a glass of brandy in our hands, as you may plainly see,
We'll show the British Grenadiers that Uncle Sam is free.
Chorus:
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