'Raisin' McCain' a Rousing Campaign Anthem

Latest in a Great Tradition of Political Music

Country and Western singer John Rich has composed the anthem for the John McCain campaign Raisin' McCain. By so doing, John Rich is following a tradition that is as old as American politics. The practice has been in existence since at least 1840.

Campaign songs are meant to entertain an audience at campaign rallies, before and after the candidates' speeches. They also tend to reinforce certain themes that the candidate would like to impart, patriotism, change, praise for the candidate, criticism of the other candidate and victory in the election.

In 1840, the candidate for the Whigs, William Henry Harrison, used a song composed by Alexander Coffman Ross entitled "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" set to the music of a traditional song, "Little Pigs." Tippecanoe referred to a battle Harrison had won as an Army commander against American Indians.

"For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.

For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.

And with them we'll beat little Van, Van, Van,

Van is a used up man.

And with them we'll beat little Van"

"Van" was, of course, Harrison's opponent, Martin Van Buren.

Abraham Lincoln campaigned in 1860 to the tune of "Lincoln and Liberty Too", composed to the music of a sea shanty called "Old Roisen the Beau."

"Hurrah for the choice of the nation,

Our chieftain so brave and so true,

We'll go for the great reformation,

For Lincoln and Liberty too!"

In modern times, Franklin Roosevelt, in 1932, made popular a song called "Happy Days are Here Again", which has since become a traditional staple at Democratic campaign events. Starting in 1988, Republicans adopted "Proud to be An American" by Lee Greenwood.