[In the British Army of 1776, officers wore on their epaulettes what today we call "gold braid" or "scrambled eggs." They called it "macaroni."

[In the rag-tag American Army of 1776, made up of farmers straight from the fields and furrows, many officers were elected by the men, and stuck a casual feather in their hats to denote their rank.

[The British thought this was ridiculous, and made up a song laughing at such a silly army: "Stuck a feather in their caps and called it macaroni!"

[But the Americans knew that's what a guerrilla "army" was, and took the song for their own.

[Who won?

[Here is "Yankee Doodle" for today.]

Yankee Doodle, 2010

Once Yankee Doodles went to town,
Riding on a pony –
Stuck a feather in their caps
And called it macaroni!

CHORUS: Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle Dandy –
Mind the music and the step
And with the drums be handy!

Now Yankee Doodles face BP,
Each riding on a 'cycle –
"Stick a feather in our caps;
Your oil ain't worth a nickel!"

"We stand upon the Blue Ridge hills
Where Coal is killing mountains,
Where miners choked in deadly gas,
So Massey could rule counties."

"Who's your leader?" yelled the boss,
Laughing at our blue jeans.
"All of us are leaders, 'cause
Our ends and means are freedom."

CHORUS: Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle Dandy –
Mind the music and the step,
And with the drums be handy!

"Those who died in rigs and mines
'Cause you were piling profit --
The fisherfolk who lost their work,
Will not forgive your lyin'."

"We're standing up, from Gulf to Sea
To free our earth from poison;
No Corporate dumps of Coal and Oil
Will ruin our lives and seasons!

CHORUS: Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle Dandy –
Mind the music and the step
And with the drums be handy!

[Join in free-form dancing to drums and flutes.]

(This version, sung to the long-ago melody, by Rabbi Arthur Waskow of The Shalom Center)