Note 120 — UNCLE SAM. BY ALBERT MATTHEWS.
Reading edition
In a song called Brother Jonathan, doubtless written in 1708, when war with France was thought imminent, and printed in 1800 in The Nightingale, or Rural Songster (Dedham), p. 118, is found this stanza:
"I think it's darned wrong, be sure, Because we us'd 'em clever; An' uncle vums a sailor works Much harder than a weaver."
Throughout the war of 1812, song after song was written to the air of Yankee Doodle.