Election Songs

Air: John Anderson, My Jo

When my old hat was new ('twas back in sixty-one),
Brave boys went out to battle and with them Harrison,
They fought for union of the States, for abolition, too,
And many boys were brought home dead, when my old hat was new.

When my old hat was new, G. Cleveland was a man,
But he preferred to stay at home, a-playing cards with Dan;
He hired a substitute to fight—that was much safer, too,
And kept one eye on Canada, when my old hat was new.

When my old hat was new, Judge Thurman was at home,
He thought it was a sin to fight—this Roman just from Rome—
Rebellion he considered right, and negro slavery too;
He kissed the hand that struck the flag, when my old hat was new.

When my old hat was new, the friends of liberty
Knew well the merits of young Ben, while fighting at Peach Tree;
Come now, huzza for Harrison, just as we used to do,
When first we heard our country's call, and my old hat was new.

Analysis: This is another Harrison song that references an older song from 1840, "When This Old Hat Was New." The original song looked at the Democratic party and the Whig view of the same old tricks. The 2016 anti-Hillary Clinton song is based on this concept.