Song Parodies -> "Martin Van Buren"

Original Song Title:

"Elanor Rigby"

Original Performer:

"Martin Van Buren"

Parody Written by:

The Lyrics

I originally wanted to start this series about lesser known Presidents on President's Day. Once again, I procrastinated. With each one that I post, you may ask yourself why I was not a history teacher rather than a music teacher. My band director colleagues have been asking the same question for the last thirt-four years! ;D

Forgotten Presidents - how tragic!
Had no Obama/Reagan magic!

Martin Van Buren,
Jackson's wing man, his V.P. and then President Eight -
Good but not great.
First President to
Come from New York, native son of the town Kinderhook -
He was no schnook!
Poor forgotten Martin,
You're gone without a trace.
Poor forgotten Martin,
You still deserve a place.

Fought for the people,
Stood for the right, broke the might of the National Bank.
We've him to thank.
Then a depression
Hit and he lost re-election to Tippecanoe
And Tyler too!
Poor forgoten Martin,
The Whigs gave you the screw.
Poor forgotten Martin,
But still you were not through!

Forgotten Presidents - there's still more.
Who can remember Millard Fillmore?

Martin Van Buren
Tried for the Dems nomination next in 'forty-four -
Polk slammed the door!
In 'forty -eight, he ran as a FreeSoil third party man - it wasn't wise.
Cost Dems the prize!
Porr forgotten Martin,
You"re quite unknown, it's true.
Only Old Man Ribber
Can write songs about you.

Many sources believe that the slang phrase "O.K." comes from Van Buren's nickname...Old Kinderhook. ;D

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Steve K. - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

Martin van Buren was the first sitting VP under the "presidential ticket" system to be elected to the presidency. The second and last was George HW Bush. MvB was also a descendant of Dutch New Amsterdam colonist - like his distant cousins, the Roosevelts.

Mark Scotti - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

Great write! Landslide voting at 555...

Michael Pacholek - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

Doing pieces on Presidents. Wish I'd thought of that. Wait a minute, I did: I had my "Presidential Parody Project" in 2004, and did all 43. But this is better than my "I'm President the 8th, I Am."

Phil Nelson - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

This was better than ok, it was presidential! 5's

2Eagle - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

"We are the mediocre presidents/ You won't find our pictures on dollars or on cents..."_ The Simpsons. This parody isn't.

Fiddlegirl - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

This was quite enlightening and a thoughtful public service! ("Ask not what Amiright can do for you...") :D 555

Tommy Turtle - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

And here you said you weren't going to do political parodies any more. ... ;) You had me at the intro lines! 555.

@ Michael Pacholek: Do you feel better now, letting OMR and the rest of us know that, or was that just to discourage OMR from continuing? ... It's his page, let him have the spotlight, 'k? ;)

Christie Marie M - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

Dug your politically based parodies, OMR! Martin Van Buren is never forgotten! Saluting you with 555's!

Meriadoc - February 19, 2010 - Report this comment

I got a real chuckle at your working in of Tippecanoe and Tyler too... :-)

AFW - February 20, 2010 - Report this comment

Good Prez parody

Timmy1000 - February 20, 2010 - Report this comment

Another good one. For me, the presidents get pretty fuzzy before Lincoln and after Grant until the 1900's

John Jenkins - February 21, 2010 - Report this comment

Very good, OMR. As Meriadoc points out, the Tippecanoe was cleverly inserted, without being forced. But what most impresses me is that you come from a background of education and the arts and you somehow overcame the left wing influence of both fields of endeavor.

Barry J. Mitchel - February 23, 2010 - Report this comment

Fine verse and history refresher, except for 3 typos: Elanor (title), Porr and You"re (ending) due to your high output.

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