Billie Holiday: Yankee Doodle Never Went to Town

Making "Yankee Doodle" its official song was in keeping with Connecticut's Revolutionary spirit. As first sung by British redcoats to deride disorganized colonials, "doodle" meant fool. By adopting the ditty as their own, nutmeggers demonstrated impudent defiance. In 1935, however, investigative reporter Billie Holiday discovered that the backstory was phony. "Yankee Doodle never went to town," she revealed. "He didnt even own a pony." State historical societies were understandably up in arms. Buoyed by Swing Era stalwarts, however, Billie stuck to her guns. This track doesn't aspire to be High Art, but its silly fun is thick as hasty pudding.