Want To Learn History Easily?
Just Add Music
Last year, after hours of proofing my upcoming book, “Real Philly History, Real Fast,” I woke up in the middle of the night with three words in my mind: "The Last Farewell."
I scrawled them on the post-it notes I keep by my bedside, and examined what I'd written the next morning, when I was more awake.
That's when I realized why I had written these words.
For several weeks, I’d been doing marathon book-proofing. At that time, I’d been painstakingly reviewing profiles of Philadelphia naval heroes Commodore John Barry, Captain Gustavus Conyngham and Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr. with my ever-present magnifying glass.
Knowing this, my unconscious mind had steered me to "The Last Farewell." one of the greatest naval warfare songs I've ever heard. And one I had not heard or thought about for over 45 years.
Fully awake the next morning, I searched for the song online, found a YouTube version and played the video repeatedly. I was enthralled all over again.
My book focuses on fascinating Philly facts and interesting oddities. In my research, I discovered that “The Last Farewell” has quite a compelling history of its own. More on that in a bit.
But first, let's look at two other YouTube videos I enjoyed – while writing stories about the “Mason-Dixon Survey” and the “Acadian Connection”
Both videos really made the history far more vivid and more exciting.
Drawing the Line
Many people don't realize that the Mason-Dixon survey – which settled once and for all the long-disputed border between Maryland and Pennsylvania – started on South Street in Philadelphia.
Why? Because the border was defined as being 15 miles south of the southernmost house in Philadelphia.
And South Street – Cedar Street in William Penn's original plan – was where that house was. Today it would be under the South Street pedestrian bridge near I-95.
So Mason and Dixon started their survey in Philadelphia. Then they moved 15 miles south to cut a border westward through hundreds of miles of dense Pennsylvania forest.
Fortunately, while I was writing this story about the Mason-Dixon survey, I came across a marvelous YouTube video by Mark Knopfler and James Taylor called "Sailing to Philadelphia."
I defy you to play this video and not feel excited about Mason and Dixon's trip here to America to start this monumental work. It certainly added to my enjoyment.
“Sailing to Philadelphia” by Mark Knopfler and James Taylor
Forced From Home
Another story subject and song combo I found involved Philadelphia's “Acadian Connection.” Expelled by the British in 1755 from their colony in Nova Scotia, some 450 of these unfortunates ended up living in Philadelphia, some for many years.
While researching their story, I stumbled across a wonderful YouTube video with great visuals. It's called "Acadian Driftwood" by The Band and gives you a real feel for what these poor Acadian people went through.
“Acadian Driftwood” by The Band
Calling them “driftwood” was a really powerful word choice by songwriter Robbie Robertson.
Now back to "The Last Farewell"
"The Last Farewell" by Roger Whittaker
Interesting Oddities
The lyrics of “The Last Farewell” were actually written by a silversmith from Birmingham, England, named Ron A. Webster, says Wikipedia. Webster sent them to Roger Whittaker, the singing host of a radio program in the United Kingdom.
Whittaker had invited his audience to send him lyrics or poems. Then each week for 26 weeks, he selected one entry and made a song from the words. (His show also included an orchestra with arrangements by Zach Lawrence.)
Webster’s song appeared on the show, and Whittaker recorded it in a 1971 album. Then it seemed to die.
Four years later, the wife of a program director for an Atlanta radio station heard “The Last Farewell” while in Canada. Returning home, she asked her husband to play the song. He did and it soon took off like a rocket. Eventually the song sold about 11 million copies worldwide, and was # 1 in 11 different countries.
Whittaker believes “much of the appeal of "The Last Farewell" comes from the classical-sounding nature of the opening French horn solo.” I think it’s just a great combination of words and music that still works.
Why this song went viral (in the ‘70s) is anyone’s guess
But, I’m certainly glad I heard it somewhere along the way.
Evidently, my subconscious woke me in the middle of the night for a good reason. It wanted to remind me how YouTube renditions like “The Last Farewell,” “Sailing to Philadelphia” and “Acadian Driftwood” make history far easier to understand …and much more fun to learn.
I wish my teachers had known this when I was in school.
Jim Murphy’s new book, “Real Philly History, Real Fast” is available from Temple University Press, bookshop.org and amazon.com.