Sometimes, it may be best not to know what went through a composer's mind.

Consider the case of "The Star-Spangled Banner." You've heard about where the words came from. You may even have heard that the melody "To Anacreon in Heaven" was a drinking song. But did you know that there was an intermediate stage, "Adams and Liberty," which was a campaign song for John Adams written by a hack who was horribly overpaid for an abominable text? This book gives you both the text of the song and the history.

This whole book is a collection of historically important songs, with history and (frequently) snarky comments about their sources. It's of the greatest use if you are a musician and can play the songs, but it can be fun just to read, especially if you have interest in older songs. And Spaeth is a genuine authority, one of the greatest song scholars of the early twentieth century. So you can have fun and learn at the same time.

You don't have to believe me. Spaeth would go on to produce a sequel, Weep Some More, My Lady. Clearly, the idea of this book was one that did very well. ( )