When This Old Hat Was New.

66

Song performed by: Chad Sheridan, Leslie Beukelman (vocals) and Tara Dirst (banjo and guitar). Recording engineer: Matt Dotson.

When this old hat was new, the people used to say,
The best among the Democrats were HARRISON and CLAY;
The Locos now assume the name -- a title most untrue,
And most unlike their party name, when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, Van Buren was a Fed,
An enemy to every man who labored for his bread;
And if the people of New-York have kept her records true,
He voted 'gainst the poor man's rights when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, Buchanan was the man
Best fitted in the Keystone State to lead the Fed'ral clan --
He swore "if Democratic blood should make his veins look blue,
He'd cure them by phlebotomy," when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, ('twas eighteen hundred seven,)
Charles Ingersoll did then declare, by all his hopes of heaven,
"Had he been able to reflect, he'd been a Tory true,
And ne'er have thought it a reproach," when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, of Richard Rush 'twas said,
To figure well among the Feds, he wore a black cockade;
Deny this Locos, if you can -- for every word is true,
I knew full well old Dicky Rush, when this old hat was new.

67

When this old hat was new, the Senator from Maine,
Destroyed by fire an effigy, t' immortalize his name;
The effigy was Madison's, if common fame be true --
So Reuel Williams was a Fed when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, 't was in the Granite State,
That Harry Hubbard asked each town to send a delegate,
To meet in council at the time when Federalism blue
Made Hartford look like indigo, when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, Sam Cushman did declare,
"That should a soldier cross the lines, he hoped he'd perish there,
And leave his bones in Canada for enemies to view;"
So much for his Democracy, when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, old Governor Provost
The States invaded, at the head of a numerous British host,
Then mark, ye Locos, what did Martin Chittenden then do?
Forbid Green Mountains Boys to fight, when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, Woodbury and Van Ness,
E. Allen Brown, and Stephen Haight were of the Federal mess,
A. H. Everett, Martin Field, and Sam. C. Allen too,
Now PATENT Democrats, were Feds, when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, these worthies did oppose
The cause and friends of Liberty, and stood among their foes;
Not so with ‘Granny’ Harrison, for at Tippecanoe,
He bravely fought the savage foes, when this old hat was new.

When this old hat was new, the friends of Liberty
Knew well the merits of Old Tip, while fighting at Maumee;
Come now, huzza for HARRISON, just as we used to do,
When first we heard of Proctor's fall, when this old hat was new.