Seeking a Second Term

 

---

OH, GROVER C, MY JO GROVE.

Air — “John Anderson, My Jo.”

Oh, Grover C, my Jo Grove! I wonder what you mean
By such an inconsistent act as that we’ve lately seen;
You thought a second term, Grove, about four years ago,
A danger to the nation, Oh, Grover C., my Jo.

Oh, Grover C., my Jo Grove, you’ve climbed the hill of state,
And many a cunning trick, man, was fathered in your pate;
But now you’re tottering down, Grove; how rapidly you go!
You’ll soon be sprawling at the foot, Oh, Grover C, my Jo!

Oh, Grover C., my Jo Grove, when first we were acquaint
Tis true you was not slow, Grove, with sinner or with saint ;
But now you have grown fat, Grove, you never seem to know
How fast you’re going back again, Oh, Grover C, my Jo.

Oh, Grover C, my Jo Grove, now Thurman is your bower,
You’ve set him up behind you, Grove, to help you ride to power,
But he has grown too old, Grove, we all of us well know,
To help you much in such a race, Oh, Grover C., my Jo.

Oh, Grover C, my Jo Grove, our faith you did abuse,
And you can’t wear again, Grove, the Presidential shoes;
So take yourself away, Grove; clear back to Buffalo,
For Harrison will take your place, Oh, Grover C., my Jo.

---

Notes:

“John Anderson, My Jo” is a Robert Burns song.  “Jo” means “love” or “lover.”

“Grove” was Grover Cleveland, the incumbent president.

“But now you have grown fat…” Grover was renowned for his girth.

Senator Allen G. Thurman was Grover’s vice-presidential candidate.  He was both elderly and sickly.

Buffalo:  Before Cleveland was Governor of New York, he was Mayor of Buffalo.

Harrison was the Republican presidential candidate.

Cleveland was much hindered in this race by his opinion that campaigning was beneath the dignity of a president of the United States, so he let Thurman do the work.

---

Tomorrow:  The Catastrophe