They Might Be Giants - James K Polk guitar chord

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Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 18:23:17 -0500

From: Brian Luskey

Subject: "James K. Polk" by They Might Be Giants

James K. Polk

by They Might Be Giants

Factory Showroom, 1996 (although written in 1990 and played often live)

C G C F (2x)

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In eighteen forty-four, the Democrats were split

The three nominees for the presidential candidate

were Martin Van Buren, a former president,

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and an abol-ition-ist

James Buchanan, a moderate

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Lewis Cass, a general and expansionist.

>From Nashville came a dark horse riding up -

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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 --

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Mister James K. Polk our eleventh president

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"Young Hickory," "Napoleon of the Stump."

transcription by Brian Luskey