Ages ago, I tried tracking down as many of the actual phrases of 18th century letters, dispatches, essays, etc. that made up the book and lyrics of 1776. I can’t recall if Adams himself used the phrase, but bidding England goodnight forever certainly was part of the anti-British catchphrases of the day. The Virginia constituents urging their representatives to vote for independence (leading to the resolution Lee brought to the Congress) declared, “We therefore, your constituents, instruct you positively to declare for an Independency, that you solemnly abjure any allegiance to His Britannic Majesty and bid him a good night forever…”
So it may sound trite to your ears, but it’s extremely historical. (Which thrills me no end, of course.’
Laura, ever ready with more useless facts… |
