"Yankee Doodle Came To Town
Riding On A Pony
Stuck A Feather In His Cap
And Called It . . . Macaroni?"
This verse from the Revolutionary War ditty always bothered me. Why the hell would anyone stick a feather in their cap, and call it "macaroni"? Why not "Godzilla" or "Seaweed"? What was the Doodle thinking?
It was in intent a disparaging song sung by British regulars to denigrate the country bumpkins who made up the revolutionary army.
According to the song, this unsophisticated corn cob called Yankee Doodle shows up riding on a pony, he sticks a feather in his cap and calls it "macaroni". The "Macaronis" were a group, like the punks or rockers, that delighted in overdressing in England. They were "dandies" of questionable masculinity. At the time, macaroni, was a new find from Italy, an exotic dish favored by people of fashion and breeding. Â The British "Macaronis" savored the dish to display their worldly snobbery.
There were even what were called "macaroni" wigs being worn at the time.
The Doodle was such an unpolished yokel that he thought that simply by sticking a feather in his cap he distinguished himself as a dedicated follower of fashion, one of the elite.
Later depictions show a triumphant Uncle Sam figure riding on a good looking horse, but the original intent was to disparage the soldiers of the ragged army of the new republic. So, don't underestimate the Doodle. Â