American politics has been a tough business for a long time—ever since George Washington decided not to run for a third term, creating a battle between Vice President John Adams (who won) and Thomas Jefferson in 1796. Music has helped make and break political reputations. Do you have a favorite election song? Let me hear from you!
And, no matter who your candidates are, go and vote! It’s your right; use it.
Meanwhile, here are some examples election songs I thought you might enjoy and ponder…
Tippecanoe and Tyler Too (1840)
The smear campaign of 1840 saw William Henry Harrison swept into office and Martin Van Buren swept out. Part of Harrison’s success was due to the song, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,” which claimed that “Van [Van Buren] is a used-up man.” Harrison had beaten the Shawnee leader Tenkswatawa in the Battle of Tippecanoe, and Tyler was Harrison’s running mate. Here’s balladeer Oscar Brand singing it. The song might not seem like much of a big deal now, but it is held up by historians as the song that ushered in the modern era of political songs becoming smash hits that have helped to decide elections.
Lincoln and Liberty (1860)
One of the next great 19th-century campaign songs was “Lincoln and Liberty,” written in 1859 and made popular by the Hutchinson Family Singers during Lincoln’s 1860 run. Sung to a popular fiddle tune, the lyrics are bold and persuasive, making the case for abolition, as the Hutchinsons often did:
Hurrah for the choice of the nation, our chieftain so brave and so true
We’ll go for the great reformation, for Lincoln and liberty too.
We’ll go for the son of Kentucky, the hero of Hoosierdom through
The pride of the “Suckers” so lucky, for Lincoln and Liberty too.
Then up with the banner so glorious, the star-spangled red, white and blue
We’ll fight ’till our banner’s victorious, for Lincoln and liberty too.
Come all you true friends of the nation, attend to humanity’s call
Come aid in the slaves’ liberation, and roll on the liberty ball.
We’ll finish the temple of freedom, and make it capacious within
That all who seek shelter may find it, whatever the hue of their skin.
Then up with the banner so glorious, the star-spangled red, white and blue
We’ll fight ’till our banner’s victorious, for Lincoln and liberty too.
I Like Ike (1952)
Well, this was revealing. A rather seemingly innocuous and friendly cartoon ad with a zippy jingle that promotes Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower for president. It’s revealing in that it shows no people of color… because only white people had the vote in 1952.
High Hopes (1960)
Frank Sinatra re-recorded the smash hit “High Hopes” with new, Jack Kennedy-promoting lyrics for the 1960 presidential campaign. This is another installment in the venerable tradition of repurposing beloved tunes with new lyrics for political purposes, just like “Lincoln and Liberty.”
Nixon’s the One (1968)
I’d never heard of this one until I read the excellent historical overview of political songs that was posted on the NPR website, a interview between Steve Inskeep and music critic Chris Willman. “Nixon’s the One,” sung by Connie Francis, could easily have been a 1956 Sinatra or Dean Martin tune with different lyrics, and a Nelson Riddle-like orchestration. Apparently, this was by design, as the Nixon campaign wanted to present him as a law-and-order candidate who would bring back an age long gone, for which some voters were pining.
God Bless the USA (1984)
Ronald Reagan co-opted this country classic for his re-election in 1984.
Don’t Stop (1993)
At Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Ball, Fleetwood Mac reunited for the first time since 1982 and performed “Don’t Stop.” This one mostly speaks for itself: great fun, lots of joy.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (2008) On November 4, Election night, Barack Obama won the presidency, and this song played at the party in Grant Park.
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