Young Hickory is Praised in Song
In 1996, the alternative rock band called "They Might Be Giants" released the album "Factory Showroom". The album contained 13 songs and had modest sales, but one of the tracks contained a re-release of a song that had previously appeared as a B-side to the band's biggest hit "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)". The song was named after, and about President James K. Polk (called "James K. Polk"). It was a brief account of Polk's election and term as President. It was reasonably accurate and despite it's nerdy subject matter, the song acquired a cult following.
The lyrics to the song are as follows:
In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tarriffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump
The band "They Might Be Giants" was formed in 1982 by John Flansberg and John Linnell. Still going strong, they have released 14 studio albums (their most recent "Here Comes Science" last year, with another planned for 2012. They took their name from the 1971 film of the same name starring George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward.
If you've never heard the song, or can't wait to hear it again, I've embedded a video of it below.
Find more videos like this on The Fremd High School American Studies Ning
The lyrics to the song are as follows:
In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tarriffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump
The band "They Might Be Giants" was formed in 1982 by John Flansberg and John Linnell. Still going strong, they have released 14 studio albums (their most recent "Here Comes Science" last year, with another planned for 2012. They took their name from the 1971 film of the same name starring George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward.
If you've never heard the song, or can't wait to hear it again, I've embedded a video of it below.
Find more videos like this on The Fremd High School American Studies Ning