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Whitehouse Blues

from Field Recordings Vol. I by Uncle Dan Henshall

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about

A traditional bluegrass song about the assassination of President McKinley by supposed anarchist Leon Czolgosz in 1901. My version is heavily influenced by the singing of John Renbourne.

lyrics

Mr McKinley,
He didn't do no wrong,
Rode on down to Buffalo,
But he didn't stay too long,
Hard times, hard times.

People they come running 'round,
Look what has been done,
You have shot the president down,
With your Ivor Johnson gun,
Hard times, hard times.

Freight train, freight train,
Runnin' on down the line,
Blowing at every station,
McKinley is dying,
Hard times, Hard times.

Freight train, freight train,
Runnin' on down the track,
taking him to the graveyard,
But it won't bring him back,
Hard times, Hard times.

Now Roosevelt's in the White House,
Drinking from a silver cup,
McKinley's in the graveyard,
And he won't be getting up,
Hard times, hard times.

Now Roosevelt's in the White House,
He's doing his best,
McKinley's in the graveyard,
Taking his rest.
Hard times, hard times.

credits

from Field Recordings Vol. I, released October 2, 2012
Dan Henshall - Guitar, Vocals.
Recorded by Ken Foster.

license

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Uncle Dan Henshall London, Ontario

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