The Velvet Chair in a Log Cabin

 

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LOG CABIN SONG.

Air — “Highland Laddie”

Oh, where, tell me where, was your Buckeye Cabin made?
Oh, where, tell me where, was your Buckeye Cabin made?
‘Twas built among the merry boys who plied the plow and spade,
Where the Log Cabin stood in the bonnie Buckeye shade.

Chorus — ‘Twas built, etc.

Oh, what, tell me what, was that Buckeye Cabin’s fate?
Oh, what, tell me what, was that Buckeye Cabin’s fate?
We wheeled it to the Capital, and placed it there elate,
As a token and a sign of the bonnie Buckeye State.

Chorus — We wheeled it, etc.

Oh, why, tell me why, did your Buckeye Cabin go?
Oh, why, tell me why, did your Buckeye Cabin go?
It went against the spoilsmen — for well its builders new,
It was Harrison that fought for the Cabins long and true.

Chorus — It went against, etc.

And how, tell me how, can that Cabin live again?
And how, tell me how, can that Cabin live again?
It can live in the memory of brave and loyal men;
It can live in the battle for our gallant leader, Ben.

Chorus — It can live, etc.

Oh, what, tell me what, does this Cabin represent?
Oh, what, tell me what, does this Cabin represent?
It represents the homes where the Free Trade robber went,
And sought to take a dollar and to leave a paltry cent.

Chorus — It represents, etc.

By whom, tell me whom, will the battle next be won?
By whom, tell me whom, will the battle next be won?
The winner will be Harrison, for we are quite too wise
To starve, that foreigners may eat and grow to Cleveland’s size.

Chorus — The winner, etc.

Oh, what, tell me what, will Grover Cleveland do?
Oh, what, tell me what, will Grover Cleveland do?
He’ll travel back to New York State, a-looking awful blue,
While the Log Cabins ring with “Young Tippecanoe!”

Chorus — He’ll travel, etc.

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Notes:

Ohio is the “Buckeye State.”  Harrison was born in Ohio (even though at the time of the election of 1888 he was serving as senator from Indiana).

The “cabin” references the log cabin campaign of 1840, for Ben’s grandfather, William Henry Harrison.

“Spoilsmen” were persons who profited by the “spoils system” (aka government patronage), jobs and other rewards given to political supporters.

In the election of 1888 (and more generally) the Democrats stood for free trade, while the Republicans stood for protectionism.

Grover Cleveland, aka “Uncle Jumbo,” was renowned for his corpulence.

Cleveland, before his election to president, had been Governor of New York.

“Young Tippecanoe” is Benjamin Harrison.

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Tomorrow:  The Rough Log Cabin