They Might Be Giants

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James K. Polk
by They Might Be Giants
Factory Showroom, 1996 (although written in 1990 and played often live)

C      G      C      F     (2x)

    C		    G	     C	  F	     C     G	C	F
In eighteen forty-four, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
were Martin Van Buren, a former president,
	C   F 	  G  G
and an abol-ition-ist
James Buchanan, a moderate
	C	F      G     F     G	G
Lewis Cass, a general and expansionist.
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up -
	C	 F	 C	G	C	G	C	F
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 vote was 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 tariffs 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 --
	C	 F	   C	    G   D   E
Mister James K. Polk our eleventh president
	C   F 	    C	   G	    C    G	C	F	C
"Young Hickory," "Napoleon of the Stump."


transcription by Brian Luskey