Today, music finds its way into presidential campaigns primarily through the use of pre-existing recordings as soundtracks for particular candidates. Examples include Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” (used by George W. Bush), Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (Thinking about Tomorrow)” (used by Bill Clinton), or Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (used by Barack Obama).

Back in the nineteenth century, pre-existing songs played an important role in presidential politics. They were adapted to fit particular candidates with brand new lyrics, or with clever word substitutions to standard verses from songs like “Auld Lang Syne,” “Yankee Doodle” or “The Star-Spangled Banner” (to name a few). Published both individually, as sheet music, as well as in pocket-sized, party-affiliated compilations called “songsters,” these songs were effective enthusiasm-generators at political gatherings and marches.

One the most famous American campaign songs, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too (Oh What Has Caused this Great Commotion),” began life as a tune called “Little Pigs” and gave much momentum to William Henry Harrison’s 1840 campaign against Martin Van Buren. The song caught on in part through its catchy phrase “And with him [President William Henry Harrison] we’ll beat Little Van, Van, Van is a used-up man.” Tippecanoe in this case referred to President Harrison, who had distinguished himself at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe; “Little Van” referred to President Van Buren, the butt of many campaign songs, lampooned as much for his short stature as for his politics.

In 1892, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” was revived for the election between Benjamin Harrison (W.H. Harrison’s grandson) and Grover Cleveland. In this updated version, “Tyler” was switched to “Whitelaw” (for Whitelaw Reid, Harrison’s running mate) and “Little Van” was switched to “Stephen Grove” (for Stephen Grover Cleveland).

This song in its 1840 version was revived again in 2004 in a recording by the band They Might Be Giants.

Songsters are a particularly rich resource for the study of 19th century politics, not only for their lyrics, but also for the essays and cartoons interspersed among the songs. They also offer a glimpse into “hot-button” issues of previous eras, as well as into the long history of negative campaigning in election season.  The Music Division has a rich collection of songsters from 1840 through 1888, particularly from the Republican and Whig parties. Many of these are featured in a current case exhibit on the third floor of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Following the exhibit, they can be requested for study in the Special Collections Reading Room using the call number *MPWC-Amer. followed by the title of the songster.