tag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:/blogs/american-pioneer-music?p=3American Pioneer Music2018-11-08T19:22:20-05:00Election Songsfalsetag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/49172022017-11-02T21:01:01-04:002020-06-25T01:18:34-04:00The Great Baby Show<p>The great songwriter, Stephen Foster, is most known for songs such as "Campton Races," "Beautiful Dreamer," and "My Old Kentucky Home." However, Foster happened to be a member of the Demoractic Party. He was also an in-law of <a contents="James Buchanan" data-link-label="James Buchanan" data-link-type="page" href="/james-buchanan" style="" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2980b9;">James Buchanan</span></a>, who ran in the 1856 presidential election. He witnessed a Republican parade that year in his home state of Pennsylvania. He thought the view of the speakers were ridiculous, as were the participants. Foster wrote "<a contents="The Great Baby Show" data-link-label="The Great Baby Show" data-link-type="page" href="/the-great-baby-show" target="_blank">The Great Baby Show</a>" in response to that political gathering. </p>
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<p>Air: Villikins & his Dinah </p>
<p>Lyrics: Stephen Foster </p>
<p>On the Seventeenth day of September, you know, <br>Took place in our city the great baby show; <br>They shut up the factories and let out the schools, <br>For the Seventeenth day was the day of all fools. </p>
<p>Chorus: </p>
<p>Sing tu ral lal lu ral la lu ral lal lay. </p>
<p>Sing tu ral lal lu ral la lu ral lal lay. </p>
<p>They made a procession of wagons and boats, <br>Of raccoons and oxen (they all have their votes) <br>Sledge hammers, triangles and carpenter's tools, <br>One thousand and eight hundred horses and mules. </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>They had gemmen ob color to join in their games <br>And jokers and clowns of all ages and names <br>They had pop guns and tin pans and all kinds of toys <br>And a very fine party of women and boys. </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>They had young men on horse back, so nice and so gay, <br>Aged Seventeen years on this Seventeenth day, <br>And the ladies all thought they were bold cavaliers <br>These bright looking lads ages seventeen years. </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>They had grim border-ruffians, I'll bring to your mind, <br>And they've plenty more left of the very same kind, <br>They drank from a flask and played cards on the way, <br>And the children looked on, on this Seventeenth day. </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>They had Ohio Yankess of Western Reserve <br>Who live upon cheese, ginger cakes and preserve, <br>Abolition's their doctrine their rod and their staff, <br>And they'll fight for a sixpence an hour and a half. </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>Now was it not Kind in these good simple clowns <br>To amuse all the children in both of our towns <br>To shut up their work shops and spend so much money <br>To black up their faces, get tight and be funny. </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>They called it a council of freemen you know <br>But I told you before 'twas a great baby show, <br>For when they had met they had nothing to say <br>But "Poor Bleeding Kansas" and "Ten Cents A Day" </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>Then their ship Constitution was hauled through the street <br>With sixteen small guns she was armed complete <br>But the brave ship of State by which Democrats stand <br>Carries thirty one guns with old Buck in command </p>
<p>Chorus </p>
<p>In the year '45 when the fire laid us waste <br>Old Buck gave us five hundred dollars in haste <br>They then took his money and lauded his name <br>But he's now "Ten cent Jimmy", their banners proclaim.</p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48989722017-10-19T18:27:14-04:002022-05-17T11:30:26-04:00Martin Van of Kinderhook and the 1848 Election Song for Free Soil<p>Martin Van Buren, from Kinderhook New York, had a second phase of his political life after his presidency. Still a power in the Democratic party, he surprised a few people by leaving it to run on the anti-slavery Free Soil party. One of the most entertaining songs of that election, was put to the minstrel song "Dandy Jim of Caroline." </p>
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<p>The song does modify a few lyrics that are not appropriate for Youtube and general audiences. The complete lyrics can be viewed <a contents="here" data-link-label="Martin Van of Kinderhook" data-link-type="page" href="/martin-van-of-kinderhook" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48921362017-10-15T08:00:00-04:002017-10-15T08:00:40-04:00Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election appears on CD Baby<p>We have some great news to report about our first release: <a contents="Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/americanpioneersingers" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election </a>is now available for purchase on CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/americanpioneersingers</p>
<p>The album was released back in 2013 by American Pioneer Music to help listeners understand political campaign songs, featuring original lyrics from the 1864 campaign. Since the release, our website has grown, and continues to add lyrics from past presidential contests. We are also adding some vocal sketches for some songs, which can easily be found by going to our youtube site. Feel free to send us e-mails to make requests. </p>
<p>As the site grows, we will release new albums, concentrating on songs that have historical significance but have yet to be recorded.</p>
<p>Thank you to our fans for continuing to support our organization and American History!</p>
<p> </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48893762017-10-12T18:55:08-04:002017-10-12T18:55:08-04:00Tale of a Slain President<p>Most people would think the title of this post is about Abraham Lincoln or maybe John F. Kennedy. Our most faithful followers know that were are preserving the complete history of the American Republic's presidential campaign songs. </p>
<p>The tale we are posting today is about president <a contents="James Garfield&nbsp;" data-link-label="James Garfield" data-link-type="page" href="/james-garfield" target="_blank">James Garfield </a>, who won the election of 1880 and was assassinated in 1881. Although he is not remembered much today, he was a giant in his time. Listen to the below song, Boatman Jim, which reviews Garfield's life. The song is put to a popular Stephen Foster song, "Old Folks at Home"</p>
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<p>This is an election song that is just as educational for voters as it is for Americans living today. </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48818272017-10-09T08:00:00-04:002017-10-09T08:00:44-04:00Interracial marriage and VP Richard Johnson<p>Today when people think of VP Johnson, they think of Andrew or Lyndon. But in the 19th Century, Richard Johnson became the 9th Vice President on the ticket with Martin Van Buren. Amazingly, the electors from Virginia, refused to follow their pledge to elect Johnson as VP. The United States Senate, as per the US Constitution, ended up voting Johnson in as VP anyway. </p>
<p>At the time, Johnson seems to have been famous for two things, killing the Indian Tecumseh in battle and marrying his slave, who was one-eighth black. Despite being dropped from the ticket by Van Buren in the election of 1840, the Henry Clay campaign still went after Johnson and his interracial marriage, as shown in the <a contents="Coon Song" data-link-label="Coon Song" data-link-type="page" href="/coon-song" target="_blank">Coon Song</a>:</p>
<p>"There's Old Tecumseh: he won't do: <br>While he loves black, he will get blue; <br>And taking a wife, so weak his sight. <br>Poor man! he didn't know black from white."</p>
<p> </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48792552017-10-06T09:00:00-04:002017-10-06T09:00:37-04:00The Republican attempt to take down Andrew Johnson<p>Some historians may argue that <a contents="Andrew Johnson&nbsp;" data-link-label="Andrew Johnson" data-link-type="page" href="/andrew-johnson" target="_blank">Andrew Johnson </a> hurt his own presidency by not working with the Republican congress and brought on his own downfall. However, that particular viewpoint has only gained popularity in couple of decades. The first wave of historians that evaluated the Reconstruction period showed much sympathy for Johnson. </p>
<p>As Johnson did not run for President in 1868, there are not many campaign songs that were written in his favor. American Pioneer Music has put together a vocal sketch of a song included in a Horatio Seymour songbook, which was part of his losing campaign against Grant. </p>
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<p>Fans of Civil War Music will recognize the tune as "Grafted into the Army," as popular anti-war song written by Henry C. Work.</p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48718012017-10-04T13:00:00-04:002017-10-04T13:00:38-04:00Lincoln and Liberty ..what about Van Buren and Liberty?<p>American history is a complicated story. Often, our knowledge of history is seen through the lens of modern popular culture. Abraham Lincoln has only seen his reputation grow in the past 150 years. Our album <a contents="Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election" data-link-label="9. Abraham, Our Abraham" data-link-type="page" href="/9-abraham-our-abraham" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election</a> is certainly part of that story. However, the myth has grown so large that we forget that Lincoln did not emerge from nothing the Republican party itself grew out of other political movements.</p>
<p>One song that is often recorded by old folk singers is Lincoln and Liberty: Here is a popular version:</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>The last verse is identical to the closing lyrics of <a contents="The Trumpet of Freedom" data-link-label="The Trumpet of Freedom" data-link-type="page" href="/the-trumpet-of-freedom" style="" target="_blank">The Trumpet of Freedom</a>:</p>
<p><em>So hurrah ! for the old fashioned doctrine, <br>That men are created all free ! <br>And down with the power of the tyrant. <br>Whoever that tyrant may be</em></p>
<p>Few people remember the importance of the Free Soil Party. But to understand Lincoln and the Civil War, these songs should be remembered and put in their proper context. </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48633732017-10-02T09:00:00-04:002017-10-02T09:00:43-04:00The Civil War after the Civil War<p>Although the Civil War ended in 1865, it did not leave American politics. A review of campaign songs during Reconstruction show Republican candidates often using the war as a justification for their own election, more specifically always blaming the Democrats for the war. Let's look at a set of lyrics from the losing 1884 Blaine and Logan campaign from the song <a contents="Our Next President" data-link-label="Our Next President" data-link-type="page" href="/our-next-president" target="_blank">Our Next President</a>:</p>
<p>They say we wave the "bloody shirt," <br>Hurrah! hurrah! <br>And if we do—who does it hurt? <br>Hurrah! hurrah! <br>We have a right, by all the tears, <br>By all the war's great woe and fears! <br>Hurrah for Blaine our coming President!</p>
<p>For a variety of reasons, this did not work for Blaine as well as it did for past Republican politicians. Grover Cleveland won the election and became the first Democratic President since <a contents="James Buchanan" data-link-label="James Buchanan" data-link-type="page" href="/james-buchanan" target="_blank">James Buchanan</a>. </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48713242017-09-29T21:14:02-04:002017-09-29T21:14:02-04:00Tippecanoe and Morton Too??<p>Did American Pioneer Music get the slogan wrong? Don't lose faith in us yet!</p>
<p><a contents="Benjamin Harrision&nbsp;" data-link-label="Benjamin Harrison" data-link-type="page" href="/benjamin-harrison" style="" target="_blank">Benjamin Harrision</a> called upon the spirit of his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, and had a campaign song to the tune of "<a contents="Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!" data-link-label="Tip and Ty" data-link-type="page" href="/tip-and-ty" target="_blank">Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!</a>" The song definitely makes less sense, especially since Benjmain Harrision was not present at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Even so, lyricists often tried to let the world know that Ben did have a war record, as he was a veteran of the Civil War. His opponent, Grover Cleveland, avoided going to war. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="OgH-4mEHWLQ" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/OgH-4mEHWLQ/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OgH-4mEHWLQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48628882017-09-27T08:00:00-04:002017-09-27T08:00:46-04:00The harsh attacks on Van Buren<p>Few sitting Presidents have had more songs written against them than President <a contents="Martin Van Buren" data-link-label="Martin Van Buren" data-link-type="page" href="/martin-van-buren" style="" target="_blank">Martin Van Buren</a>. His administration happened to take place during America's worst economic panic and his opponent in the 1840 Election brought about a new style of campaigning. One of the attacks on Van Buren is represented in the song <a contents="Oh Matty Van, My Jo, Matt" data-link-label="Oh Matty Van, My Jo, Matt" data-link-type="page" href="/oh-matty-van-my-jo-matt" style="" target="_blank">Oh Matty Van, My Jo, Matt</a>. Andrew Jackson remained famous and hand picked Van Buren as his successor. Whig writers note in the song that Van Buren cannot fill the shoes of a man like Jackson. </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48628772017-09-25T08:00:00-04:002022-05-16T14:01:55-04:00Harrison and Liberty?<p>William Henry Harrison's 1840 campaign helped usher in the modern presidential campaign. Songs from the early republic were far more poetic, as represented by the song <a contents="Jefferson and Liberty" data-link-label="Jefferson and Liberty" data-link-type="page" href="/jefferson-and-liberty" target="_blank">Jefferson and Liberty</a>. The Harrison campaign probably had the most songs written for it and in the long run will likely be overwhelmingly represented on our pages. Within that body of work includes the song <a contents="Harrison and Liberty" data-link-label="Harrison and Liberty" data-link-type="page" href="/harrison-and-liberty" target="_blank">Harrison and Liberty</a>.The authors clearly want to build on the spirit of Jefferson even though the lyrics are representative of the new campaign style. Modern listeners will notice that the original song disdains "bigots," while the Harrison version is eager to show Harrison's military record against Indians. </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/48622822017-09-23T04:36:22-04:002017-09-23T04:37:18-04:00Election Songs Grows! Listen and Learn<p>Election Songs will now feature lyrics from past Presidential Campaigns as we transform into the one stop resources for historians, educators and students. We will post vocal sketches for some of these songs as well, which will be valuable for readers that are not familiar with some of the 18th and 19th century melodies. </p>
<p>May we recommend that you start with <a contents="Jefferson and Liberty" data-link-label="Jefferson and Liberty" data-link-type="page" href="/jefferson-and-liberty" style="" target="_blank"><strong>Jefferson and Liberty</strong></a></p>
<p>Lyrics have been added and our constantly expanding for:</p>
<p><a contents="Andrew Jackson" data-link-label="Andrew Jackson" data-link-type="page" href="/andrew-jackson" style="" target="_blank">Andrew Jackson</a></p>
<p><a contents="William Henry Harrison" data-link-label="William Henry Harrison" data-link-type="page" href="/william-henry-harrison" style="" target="_blank">William Henry Harrison</a></p>
<p><a contents="James K. Polk" data-link-label="James K. Polk" data-link-type="page" href="/james-k-polk" style="" target="_blank">James K. Polk</a></p>
<p><a contents="James Buchanan" data-link-label="James Buchanan" data-link-type="page" href="/james-buchanan" style="" target="_blank">James Buchanan </a></p>
<p><a contents="Abraham Lincoln" data-link-label="Abraham Lincoln" data-link-type="page" href="/abraham-lincoln" style="" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln</a></p>
<p><a contents="Ulysses S. Grant" data-link-label="Ulysses S. Grant" data-link-type="page" href="/ulysses-s-grant" style="" target="_blank">Ulysses S. Grant</a></p>
<p><a contents="Rutherford B. Hayes" data-link-label="Rutherford B. Hayes" data-link-type="page" href="/rutherford-b-hayes" style="" target="_blank">Rutherford B. Hayes</a></p>
<p><a contents="Grover Cleveland&nbsp;" data-link-label="Grover Cleveland" data-link-type="page" href="/grover-cleveland" style="" target="_blank">Grover Cleveland </a></p>
<p>Even better we are posting lyrics for some of the losing candidates as well! </p>
<p> </p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/43090662016-08-03T21:17:38-04:002016-08-03T21:21:52-04:00Happy Days are Here Again!<a contents="Billboard Magazine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7460997/barbra-streisand-trump-clinton-tour-los-angeles" target="_blank">Billboard Magazine</a> published a story today regarding Barbra Streisand reciting the tune "Happy Days are Here Again" in reference to the Hillary Clinton campaign. The song became affiliated with Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 campaign and has become attached to the Democratic Party. Originally it was not intended to be a political song. Much like Dan Emmett's <a contents=""Dixie's Land,"" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/1057702/hillary-s-land" target="_blank">"Dixie's Land,"</a> it has taken on a life of its own far beyond its original purpose. Of course Ms. Streisand was forced to change some of the lyrics as there is currently a Democrat in the White House.<br> Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/43032072016-07-31T06:48:42-04:002016-07-31T06:50:42-04:00The Candidates from New York has arrived!<p>"The Candidates from New York" is here! 10 modern campaign songs, 5 for Trump and 5 for Clinton, with classic melodies rooted in past presidential campaigns. Check it out! </p>
<p><a contents="The Candidates from New York Cartoon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/AImWWGOWiSQ" target="_blank">The Candidates from New York Cartoon</a></p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/42913572016-07-22T20:43:53-04:002020-01-23T02:00:13-05:00Our New Album is almost here!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/79355/7ee51893fa29ed93ce21afd2e995bca2398d84b0/original/trump-and-the-turncoats.jpg?1469234618" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The past is about to meet the present. Is this cartoon about Donald Trump and Ted Cruz or was it about the 1864 Democratic Party Convention? Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/42827062016-07-17T20:10:10-04:002016-07-17T20:11:52-04:00American Pioneer Music featured on Back Story Radio<p>Listen to American Pioneer Music's latest feature on Back Story Radio's recent episode about the history of the GOP. </p>
<p><a contents="Back Story Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://backstoryradio.org/shows/the-gop/">Back Story Radio</a></p>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/11268822013-07-14T12:29:37-04:002022-05-17T14:35:37-04:00"Abraham Ain't It So" or a Political Cartoon? A well known Lincoln Historian, Harold Holzer, <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/02/how-a-racist-newspaper-defeated-lincoln-in-new-york-in-the-1864-election.html" target="_new">wrote </a>about Geroge McClellan's electoral win in New York City claiming that it was the result of a racist political cartoon. The article is worth reading for individuals interested in the 1864 election. The cartoon that Holzer writes about is also on our website; it is called "<a href="./background.cfm">The Miscegination Ball</a>."<br><br>
Holzer briefly mentions some of the political reasons for opposing the Lincoln administration. On the album "Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election," one of the anti-Lincoln tracks, "<a href="./2abrahamaintitso.cfm">Abraham Ain't It So</a>" evaluates the policy reasons for disliking Lincoln, while also stirring racial animosity. As the campaign songs demonstrate from McClellan song books, these sentiments were spread much wider than New York City: McClellan did well in other urban locations as well. Political cartoons were an important part of campaigns as were the election songs; both must be evaluated closeldy to understand how candidates were perceived during presidential races. <br type="_moz">Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/9438572013-06-14T17:25:10-04:002013-06-14T17:25:10-04:00Album Review from Jamsphere"Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election" received a fabulous review from Jamsphere, an independent music magazine. The full review can be read <a href="http://jamsphere.com/reviews/american-pioneer-singers-abraham-lincoln-and-the-election-of-1864-the-sound-of-history" target="_new">here</a>.<br type="_moz">Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/8198112013-05-25T17:29:41-04:002013-05-25T17:29:41-04:00Civil War Music ExplainedCivil War Music is often an important part of the American folk tradition. Tunes such as "Dixie's Land" may have taken on new significance with time; however, the original songs were quickly used by individuals to spread new messages. This trend did not start during the Civil War but the war brought about a series of large events that were unique in American history, including conscription, paper money, and an unprecedented constitutional crisis.<br><br>
In reality, there is no such genre as <a href="http://www.electionsongs.com">Civil War Music</a>: the modern colloquial use of the term refers to the collection of lyrics and music that are about events that occurred between 1861-1865. Most songs written during the period were based on melodies from Scotland, England and Ireland, or from minstrel or church hymns. The tunes were all well known and therefore easy to be sung. Sheet music could also be printed without musical notes; there would be a notation of the tune called an "Air" with the new set of lyrics. <br><br>
Often, tunes that are identified with the Civil War Era were not actually written during the war. A perfect example is the tune to "<a href="./7republicancampaignsong.cfm">John Brown's Body</a>"/"The Battle Hymn of the Republic". The original music was actually from the late 1850's , written for a church hymn called "Say, Brothers Will you, Meet Us". This a perfect example of why Civil War Music itself is really a modern term that does not properly explain the musical period from 1861-1865. <br>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/6764122013-05-04T19:03:37-04:002020-06-23T08:00:23-04:00Abraham Lincoln Election Songs hit ItunesAmerican Pioneer Music's first release hit itunes this week. For many years, folk singers, civil war buffs, and even mainstream artists have recorded songs from the 1800s. A review of the Lincoln albums on itunes consist mainly of versions of similar 19th century songs. Most albums will contain "Dixie's Land," "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." Generally the <a href="./home.cfm">Abraham Lincoln</a> name is used as a label to build interest in these songs. Unfortunately, they often do not have a direct connection to the 16th president. <br>
There are rare instances that a Lincoln album contains a campaign song. Usually, we find it is the song "Lincoln and Liberty," which was written during his 1860 run for office. This song is recorded often for a couple of reasons. First, the tune is an old Irish folk song called "Rosin the Beau"-- a very catchy melody that modern listeners find enjoyable. Secondly, the Weavers recorded the song many years ago, which makes it more well known among folk singers. The problem is that the song becomes more popular for modern audiences than during the year 1860. <br>
The new album "Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election" is different in that it offers songs that have not been recorded previously, with the exception of "Rally Round the Cause Boys" (Oscar Brand recorded an edited version in 1960). Moreover, six of the songs are against the now popular president. Since this album is dedicated to the 1864 campaign, McClellan is given an equal amount of songs in the compilation. It is rare that 19th Century music albums have songs that are critical of Lincoln. Without the right balance, history students assume that only one point of view existed. History and politics is always much more complicated. Music cannot make the learning experience easier; however, history buffs can have a glimpse into how people living in 1864 perceived the candidates and the language that was used to "sell" a candidate. <br>Election Songstag:www.electionsongs.com,2005:Post/5530992013-04-17T16:49:08-04:002013-04-17T16:49:08-04:00Why Now?<br>
There has been a longstanding practice in the United States to convey political messages with music. During the American Revolution lyrics were written to popular songs such as "British Grenadiers" and "Yankee Doodle" to convey messages about the changing nature of politics and conditions relating to the war. By 1840, election songs became central to presidential campaigns. For a century they would be a memorable part of virtually every election cycle. The rise of radio and television changed the way campaigns reached out to voters. The success of the new mediums led to an American electorate that is now unfamiliar with campaign songs and their importance to past elections. American Pioneer Music seeks to reverse this trend with the release of "Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election."<br><br>
The rise of the internet has brought back campaign songs in a different form. On Youtube, Facebook, and other social media sites, it is easy to find political parodies and political humor developed by citizens. Although "party bosses" have less influence on the content, the campaign song has made a return to popular culture. Because of this new trend, it is only natural that audiences have the opportunity to hear election songs from America's past.Election Songs