5. ZACHARY TAYLOR (AS TOLD BY HIS HORSE, OLD WHITEY)
from ROCK THE WHIGS! (AND JAMES K. POLK) – by: THE ACADEMIC CHALLENGE TEAM
ZACHARY TAYLOR
12th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITES STATES
(5 MARCH 1849 - 9 JULY 1850)
POLITICAL PARTY: WHIG!
NICKNAME: "OLD ROUGH AND READY "
I KNOW YOU REMEMBER,
IT WASN'T LONG AGO,
WHEN WE RODE TOGETHER IN
THE MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR.

WE TOOK ON SANTA ANNA
AND HIS 20,000 MEN.
YOU SAT UPON ME PROUDLY
WITH BULLETS RACING 'ROUND YOUR HEAD.

YOU RAN A CAMPAIGN
WITHOUT A PLATFORM.
BUT, YOUR HONOR AND VALOR
WON YOUR COUNTRYMEN'S VOTE.

WITH A NAME LIKE ROUGH AND READY
YOUR JUDGEMENT MUST BE SOUND.
AND THAT'S ALL THIS COUNTRY
NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A BURNING ISSUE
THAT FACES OUR DEAR COUNTRY:
WITHOUT SLAVERY THE SOUTH
HAS THREATENED TO SUCCEED.

JUST LIKE ON THE BATTLEFIELD
YOU KNEW THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I ONLY WISH YOU WOULD HAVE
LIVED TO SEE IT THROUGH.

OLD ROUGH AND READY
ARE YOU READY FOR SO MUCH MORE?
AS YOU CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY
ON THE PATOMAC'S SHORE

A WAR IS BEING WAGED
INSIDE YOUR SMALL INTESTINE.
AND THIS IS A WAR
YOU CANNOT WIN.

AT TEN IN THE MORNING
ON JULY THE NINTH,
WHILE DYING IN YOUR BED
YOU CALLED OUT FOR YOUR WIFE.

YOU ASKED HER NOT TO WEEP
AND THEN YOU GENTLY TOUCHED HER HEAD.
AND IN A SOLDIER'S VOICE,
THIS IS WHAT YOU SAID:

I HAVE ALWAYS DONE MY DUTY;
I AM READY TO DIE.
MY ONLY REGRET IS FOR
THE FRIENDS I LEAVE BEHIND.

OLD ROUGH AND READY
I REMEMBER HOW WE RODE
THROUGH BOTH THE BATTLEFIELDS
AND THE FIELDS OF YOUR HOME.

NOW I WALK BEHIND
YOUR FUNERAL CASKET
WITH 100,000 OTHERS
WHO'VE COME TO PAY RESPECT.


• • • • •


NEXT: WHAT A COMPROMISING SITUATION,
MILLARD FILLMORE!
.
ELECTED AS A MILITARY HERO. DIED 16 MONTHS INTO TERM OF ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS, PRESUMABLY AFTER EATING A QUICK SNACK OF ICED MILK, COLD CHERRIES, AND PICKLED CUCUMBERS AT AN INDEPENDENE DAY CELEBRATION.

Rock the Whigs! album coverThe Academic Challenge Team - Rock the Whigs! (and James K. Polk).
CD Baby..
ROCK THE WHIGS! (AND JAMES K. POLK) : 1. VAN RUIN | 2. HARRISON | 3. TYLER | 4. POLK | 5. TAYLOR | 6. FILLMORE | 7. WHIGS?
© 2008 Listen to Records : the First Act | the Academic Challenge Team | support | about | contact | index