speedracer said:
"James K. Polk," by They Might Be Giants
In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole Southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tariffs fell
And made the English sell
The Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this, he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mr. James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Old Hickory, Napoleon of the stump
HAHAHA Clarty...this is soooo easy....They Might Be Giants rock!
the following are from John Linnell's (member of TMBG) album called State Songs:
Songs of the Fifty States
Lyrics:
The songs of the fifty states,
The time has come for us to sing about a certain place,
Where everything is in the control,
Of people who are down in a hole.
The songs of the fifty states,
No two alike but each connected by a golden thread,
I'll try not to forget all the words,
And leave that job to those who have heard,
State songs, State songs,
I can't wait for my favorite one,
I'm not gonna say thier great, I ain't gonna say they ain't,
But I recall and will relate the songs and music of the fifty states,
The songs of the fifty states,
The time is nigh for us to sigh about a certain place,
Where everything is in the control,
Of people who under the ground.
State songs, State songs,
I can't wait for my favorite one,
I hear the melody, the harmony, the pounding rythm,
The ideas, notes and words,
Every state a different composition,
Keeping me awake late at night,
Can't get them out of my mind.
State songs, State songs,
I can't wait for my favorite one,
I'm not gonna say thier great, I ain't gonna say they ain't,
But I recall and will relate the songs and music of the fifty states,
The songs of the fifty states,
The time has come for us to sing about a certain place,
Where everything is in the control,
Of men who are controling my mind.
State songs, State songs,
I can't wait for my favorite one.
Illinois
Lyrics:
n/a instrumental
Credits:
Wurlitzer 103 Band Organ
Paper roll cut by Bob Stuhmer
Recorded by Grace Falconer at Mr. Stuhmer's home.
Exerpt from insert:
In 1818 the Prarie State became the 21st state admitted to the Union, and in 1875 my great-grandfather Josiah Linnell brought his family there to establish a homestead where he could grow fruit for the Chicago market. He now has descendants in all 50 of the United States. The Official State Flower of "Land of Lincoln" is the Butterfly Violet.
State Website:
http://enjoyillinois.com
West Virginia
Lyrics:
West Virginia,
Why don't you come outside with me,
West Virginia,
There's something I'd like you to see.
West Virginia,
Deep within ya,
There's another deep in side and inside the other one,
There is another in the other.
Like I told you,
You are concentric in your form,
When it's cold you,
Have got yourself to keep you warm,
West Virginia,
You'll continya,
To be constantly a part of you,
You'll never part and you will be party who will be partial to you.
Sugar maple,
Wing and seed,
Propelors spining from the tree.
Rotodentrin evergreen,
Look within and you will see,
There's another deep in side and inside the other one,
There is another in the other.
Think it over,
No need to answer right away,
I'll be over,
There in the state across the way.
West Virginia,
You'll continya,
To be constantly a part of you,
You'll never part and you will be party who will be partial to you.
South Carolina
Lyrics:
The other day my neighbor has a dented bike,
Second day he called me from intensive care,
Says he needs a picture of the dented bike,
For the evidence of what a wreck he had
Accident
Accident
Lift that fork,
eat that snail
Garcon summoned, have a new cocktail
Lift that fork,
eat that snail
Garcon summoned, have a new cocktail
Crash my bicycle
Crash my bicycle
In a big South Carolina wreck
I crash my bicyle
Crash my bicycle
Crash my bicycle
In a big South Carolina wreck
I crash my bicyle
And I won some damages
and they were punitive
By which I mean the punishment was damaging
It crushed my head
It crushed my head
Garcon, where's my drink?
Wreck!
Observe the front wheel spinning upside down
Wreck!
The red reflector fragments strewn around
Wreck!
The back wheel's 'O' is now a letter 'D'
Wreck!
I was an 'I' and now I am a 'V'
Lift that fork,
eat that snail
Garcon summoned, have a new cocktail
Lift that fork,
eat that snail
Garcon summoned, have a new cocktail
Crash my bicycle
Crash my bicycle
In a big South Carolina wreck
I crash my bicyle
Crash my bicycle
Crash my bicycle
In a big South Carolina wreck
I crash my bicyle
If I had to do it all again,
buy* bicycle
If I had to do it,
I would crash my bicycle
I'd crush my head
Collect the bread
Crash my bicycle
Move along folks
Push her back there,
move along
Show's over, folks Let him breathe, step lively
Move along folks
Push her back there, move along
Show's over, folks
Let him breathe, step lively
Fork (fork)
Snail (snail)
Garcon (garcon)
Cocktail (cocktail)
Fork (fork)
Snail (snail)
Garcon (garcon)
Cocktail (cocktail)
Credits:
Brian Doherty: Drums
John Linnell: Sax, Synths
Recorded by Paul Angelli at Excello Studio
Exerpt from insert:
The Official State Shell of the Palmetto State is the Lettered Olive. The State Dance is the Shag, and the State Insect is the Praying Mantis.
State Website:
http://www.state.sc.us/
Idaho
Lyrics:
My clock,
Vigile by the picture window,
Sleepy,
Eyes never leave the road.
Past my bedtime miles ago,
Still haven't entered,
Idaho
There is a sign,
Just up the way,
100 ft. from my front yard,
And though it's dark I make it out,
It says that Idaho welcomes you,
Everybody's passed out,
They don't know,
Who close we are now,
Idaho.
Seen you,
Know everything about you,
Heard your,
Air blowin cross my door,
Tantilizing go man go,
Driving my house to,
Idaho.
Almost there now,
Play that drum roll.
Credits:
Mark Lerner: Bass
Mark Donato: Drums
John Linnell: Synths
Recorded by Albert Caiati at Coyote Studio and out the window of Colyer Brothers Studio
Exerpt from insert:
Too often identified only with it's prodigious potato crop, the Gem State has many surprises in store for the uninitiated. Her vast hydroelectric dams produce enough power to deep-fry each of her potatoes millions of times over. Idaho can also claim one of the worlds deepest gorges, Hell's Canyon, a worthy serving bowl for such a feast of french fries!
State Website:
http://www.state.id.us/
Montana
Lyrics:
What are you staring at?
In that hospital bed,
Let me explain,
I wasn't thinking about anything,
Then it hit me that Montana was really just a leg,
With the round part just the way you would expect.
And it started with a feeling that ended in a wreck.
And it seemed to me Montana was a leg.
A leg.
Now I get it,
I'll tell the person next to me,
And then haul off and die,
I won't need this,
Electric folding bed,
I can loose these,
Tiny billcuffs now,
Cause it hit me that Montana was really just a leg,
And just like that it all fell into place,
And I don't think I could stand here any longer in this bed,
Since I figured out Montana is a leg.
A leg.
Now I get it,
I wan't sure but now I know,
And I can finaly go,
Give up my lungs,
Give up and tell the information to the man in the next bed down.
In the morning he'll tell someone the last thing that I said,
When I told him that Montana was a leg.
From the begining there was something about it staring me,
In the face I should have guessed it right away,
When it started with a feeling and ended in a wreck,
And it seemed to me Montana was a leg.
A leg.
Now I get it,
I'll tell the person next to me,
I'll say Montana was a leg.
A leg.
Now I get it,
I wan't sure but now I know,
And I can finaly go
Credits:
Jay Sherman-Godfrey: Guitar
Mark Lerner: Bass
Mark Donato: Drums
John Linnell: Accordian
Recorded by Albert Caiti at Coyote Studio
Exerpt from insert:
It's appropriate that a state as large as Montana (147,046 square miles) should sport two official State Nicknames. They are: "the Treasure State" and "Big Sky Country." Mantanans can also choose between two Official Gemstones: Sapphire and Agate. And owing to her vastness Montana requires two seperate heads of state: the Governor, and his nemesis the anti-Governor.
State Website:
http://www.state.mt.us/
