The Unofficial Campaign Song for the 2004 Election
As a form of American music, the original presidential campaign song is certainly on the endangered species list. The last known example was 'Why Not the Best?' for Jimmy Carter in '76. Little Know Ye Who's Comin' is one of the earliest (and looniest) examples of negative campaining in American politics, a traditional Scottish Highland Muster Roll-style tune that promises all manner of apocalyptic nightmares should the candidate in question not win. It worked in 1824, helping usher Adams into the White House past rivals Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William H. Crawford, and failed miserably 180 year later in 2004 when we resurrected it for John Kerry.
Lyrics for "Little Know Ye Who's Comin'", traditional, originally from 1824, adapted by Piñataland in 2004
Little Know Ye Who's Comin'
Little Know Ye Who's Comin'
Little Know Ye Who's Comin'
If John Kerry Not Be Comin'!
Fire's Comin', swords is comin',
Pistols, guns and knives is comin',
Famine's comin', bannin's comin',
If John Kerry not be comin'!
Slavery's comin', knavery's comin',
Wonder's comin;, plunder's comin',
Jobbin's comin;, robbin's comin'
If John Kerry not be comin'!
Tears are comin', fears are comin;,
Plague and pestilence is comin',
Hatin's comin;, Satan's comin',
If John Kerry not be comin'!