The History of the Song
The lyrics of “In 1814 We Took A Little Trip” were written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812. Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British navy and was inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying at dawn. He wrote the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry”, which later became the lyrics of the national anthem of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
The Lyrics of the Song
Here are the lyrics of “In 1814 We Took A Little Trip”:
In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in a town in New Orleans
Chorus:
We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin’
There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they began to runnin’
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
We looked down the river and we seed the British come
And there must have been a hundred of ’em beatin’ on the drum
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring
We stood by our cotton bales and didn’t say a thing
Chorus
Old Hickory said we could take ’em by surprise
If we didn’t fire our muskets till we looked ’em in the eyes
We held our fire till we seed their faces well
Then we opened up our squirrel guns and really gave ’em … well
Chorus
The Meaning of the Song
“In 1814 We Took A Little Trip” is a humorous song that celebrates the victory of American forces led by General Andrew Jackson over the British army at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. The song portrays the American soldiers as brave and resourceful and the British soldiers as cowardly and foolish.
The Legacy of the Song
“In 1814 We Took A Little Trip” has become a popular folk song that is often performed by American marching bands and military units. The song has been covered by many artists, including Johnny Horton, who had a hit with it in 1959. The song is also featured in the video game “BioShock Infinite” and the movie “The Patriot”.
The Bottom Line
“In 1814 We Took A Little Trip” is a catchy and entertaining song that celebrates an important moment in American history. The song is a testament to the bravery and ingenuity of the American soldiers who fought in the War of 1812 and secured the freedom of their country.
