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Campaign Songs

Music has always been an integral part of presidential campaigns. Nashville -- Music City USA -- has been the birthplace of many musical moments in presidential history.

*Check back daily for a new song! Scroll below slideshow for stories of songs.

NASHVILLE'S ELECTION SOUNDTRACK

44. "Happy Birthday" 1974

President Richard Nixon was re-elected in 1972, but in 1974 -- which was an election year for members of the House -- the Nixon came to the Grand Ole Opry. On stage with Roy Acuff and other Opry performers, Nixon played piano on "Happy Birthday," which was for his wife, Pat, "My Wild Irish Rose" and "God Bless America."

43. "Sweet Home Alabama" 2008

Jimmy Carter might never have been elected president if not for southern rock. Phil Walden, owner of Capricorn Records and a native of Macon, Ga., was an early supporter of Georgia Carter’s campaign for president.

Through Walden's involvement, southern rockers the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, the Charlie Daniels Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd all played benefit concerts for Carter and voiced their support of his candidacy.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, another politician showed his love for southern rock when former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee went into the Curb Studio on Music Row and recorded "Sweet Home Alabama," the 1974 hit for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

42. "Marching Through Georgia" 1976

"Marching Through Georgia" is about Gen. William T. Sherman’s march of his Union Army to the sea during the Civil War during which he left a path of destruction 60 miles wide. The song -- written by Henry Clay Work in 1865 -- is certainly not a favorite of long-time Georgia residents.

When Jimmy Carter was a plebe at the United States Naval Academy, he refused to sing it when the upper classmen demanded he do so, although it brought on intense hazing for the young cadet. During Carter’s presidential campaign of 1976, he arrived in Phoenix and a high school band greeted him with "Marching Through Georgia." Carter was not pleased. He said, "Doesn’t anybody realize that’s not a southern song?"

41. "I Like Ike" 1950

In 1950, the musical "Call Me Madam" premiered. The production was a satire on politics and told the story of an ill-informed though well-intentioned socialite who was appointed ambassador to a European country. The idea for the musical came from the appointment of Perle Mesta, who was a prominent hostess in Washington D.C., and fundraiser for the Democratic party who was appointed ambassador to Luxembourg.

Irving Berlin wrote the songs for the musical, one of which was "They Like Ike." At that time, Gen. Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower was a World War II hero that both political parties were trying to entice to run for President in 1952, but Eisenhower avoided any commitments. The song that Berlin wrote states:


They like Ike,
And Ike is good on a mike;
They like Ike,
But Ike says he won’t take it.

But in 1952, Eisenhower ran for president on the Republican ticket against Adlai Stevenson. The Eisenhower campaign used Berlin’s song as its campaign theme song but altered the words a bit.

The campaign song -- which was broadcast on a popular television commercial -- states:


You like Ike,
I like Ike,
Everybody likes Ike for President;
Hang out the banner,
Beat the drum,
We’ll take Ike to Washington.

The theme song worked. Eisenhower was elected president in 1952 and re-elected in 1956.

40. "Love Me Tender" 1956

When President Dwight Eisenhower ran for re-election against Adlai Stevenson, Elvis Presley became a national sensation by selling six million records and charting 17 records, five of which reached No. 1: "Heartbreak Hotel," "I Want You, I Need You, I Love," "Don’t Be Cruel," "Hound Dog" and "Love Me Tender." That year, Presley's records spent 25 weeks at top of the charts, he had 11 national TV appearances and starred in his first movie, "Love Me Tender."

39. "Can't Buy Me Love" 1964

During the 1964 election year in which Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Republican Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, the Beatles at one point occupied the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100. "Can't Buy Me Love," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Please Please Me" were the most popular songs in the U.S. the week of April 4, 1964.

38. "One of Us (Will Weep Tonight)" 1960

During the presidential campaign year of 1960, Patti Page released a song that only reached No. 31 on the pop charts but could be the theme song of half the candidates on Election Day: "One of Us (Will Weep Tonight)."

37. "God Bless America" 1938

"God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin for a World War I musical, "Yip, Yip Yaphank," but Berlin pulled the song out of the musical before it went into production because he felt it didn’t fit. Twenty years later in 1938, Kate Smith needed a song for her radio show to honor the 20th anniversary of the end of World War I. So, she contacted Berlin who gave her "God Bless America."

The song became a standard -- especially after the entry of the United States into World War II -- and has been heard during most of the presidential campaigns since that time. It is a song that does not have a political affiliation. Both Democrats and Republicans have used it, and all Americans seem to feel that it transcends politics when they sing it.

36. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" 1988

Sometimes there’s an oops factor when politicians choose a theme song for their campaign. In 1988, George H. W. Bush used "Don’t Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin for his theme song until McFerrin insisted he stop using it.

What was the reason? McFerrin said he was a Democrat and didn’t support the Bush candidacy. This also happened to Barrack Obama, who used "Hold On, I’m Coming" by Sam and Dave in his campaign until Sam Moore, who is the surviving member of that duo, told him to stop. Apparently, Moore didn’t want his song used in a political race and didn’t want the song to be identified with a particular candidate.

35. "God Bless the USA" 1984

Lee Greenwood’s "God Bless the USA" has become an anthem since it was released in 1984. One of Greenwood’s biggest hits, the song played a role in Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign in 1984.
The song has also become a rallying cry in times of distress for the country. The song was a rallying point during The Gulf War, and also was heard across the country in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.

34. "Give Peace a Chance" 1969

Sometimes a song becomes identified as being against a presidential campaign, even though neither side has chosen to use the song in that manner. In 1969, John Lennon released "Give Peace a Chance," which was used as an anthem against the Vietnam War and the re-election of President Richard Nixon. Lennon’s song "Power to the People," released in 1971, also became an anti-establishment song when the Nixon administration was "the establishment."

33. "You Can Call Me Al" 1992

When your name is Al and a song’s title has Al in it, it seems perfect for a campaign song. "You Can Call Me, Al" was written by Paul Simon and was the first single on his "Graceland" album. The song was released in 1986 and apparently Al Gore really loved and related to the song. It has a great beat and Gore and his wife, Tipper, loved to dance to it.

In the 1992 campaign, in which Gore was the running mate of Bill Clinton, he used that as his campaign theme song and even danced to it during the inauguration balls in Washington D.C. The idea for the song supposedly came to Simon when he and his wife went to the party and the host kept calling him Al and his wife Betty.

32. "The Missouri Waltz" 1948

A presidential candidate doesn’t have to like a campaign song for it to be effective. Harry Truman hated "The Missouri Waltz," but it was the state song of Missouri and since Truman was from Missouri, it was played everywhere he went during the 1948 campaign in which he ran against Republican Thomas Dewey.

Reporters and pundits all thought Dewey would win, and the Chicago Tribune even had the headline "Dewey Defeats Truman" on its front page. But Truman, against all odds, won that election even though he detested "The Missouri Waltz." Truman called the song “as bad as ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ as far as music is concerned.” Truman, an accomplished piano player, actually preferred classical composers Chopin, Mozart and Beethoven.

31. "Happy Days Are Here Again" 1932

The song "Happy Days Are Here Again" was first played on October 29, 1929 -- the date of the Stock Market Crash that precipitated the Great Depression. The song was written by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics) and was recorded in November by Leo Reisman and his orchestra with vocal by Lou Levin. The song was used in the1930 movie "Chasing Rainbows," but its fame came because it was the campaign song for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1932 presidential campaign and then became the theme song for Democratic presidential campaigns until "Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" became the campaign theme song for Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign.

The song was on Barbra Streisand’s debut album and has been recorded over 75 times. The lyrics fit the message that Roosevelt wanted to convey when he ran against incumbent Herbert Hoover in 1932:


So long sad times,
Go long bad times,
We are rid of you at last;
Howdy gay times,
Cloudy gray times,
You are now a thing of the past;
Happy days are here again.
The skies above are clear again,
So let’s sing a song of cheer again,
Happy days are here again.

30. "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" 1992

In the summer and fall of 1977, Fleetwood Mac had their hit "Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)." That song, which was written by Christine McVie, was the third of six straight Top 10 songs for Fleetwood Mac and came off their best-selling album, Rumours.

The year that song was a hit, 31-year-old Bill Clinton was serving as Attorney General of Arkansas. The following year, he was elected governor. Fifteen years later, Bill Clinton made "Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" his theme song for his presidential campaign of 1992. By that time, Fleetwood Mac had disbanded, but Clinton convinced the group to get together again and perform it at his inaugural ball in January 1993.

29. "The Hunters of Kentucky" 1824

During the 1824 election, Nashville resident Andrew Jackson collected the most votes, but there was an electoral stalemate between Jackson, John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, who split the vote, which caused the House of Representatives to elect Adams. During that campaign was a song, "The Hunters of Kentucky," which recounted Jackson’s victory over the British Army at New Orleans in January 1815.

In 1959 --135 years later and 131 years after Jackson was elected President -- the song “The Battle of New Orleans,” which re-counted Jackson’s victory over the British, became a No. 1 pop hit for six weeks in the spring and summer. Jackson’s home, The Hermitage, is in Nashville.

28. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" 1976

During the 1976 campaign in which President Gerald Ford ran for re-election against Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, the voters may have been singing a song that was a hit during that fall campaign season: "Don’t Go Breaking My Heart."

27. "Bye Bye Bye" 2000

During the 2000 presidential campaign, when Vice President Al Gore ran against Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the group NSYNC released three Top 10 songs that candidates wanted to say to voters: "It’s Gonna Be Me," "This I Promise You" and then, to their opponent, "Bye Bye Bye."

26. "You Got It: (The Right Stuff)" 1988

During the 1988 Presidential campaign in which Vice President George H.W. Bush ran against Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, each of the candidates wanted to hear from the public what the New Kids on the Block sang on their Top 10 hit: "You Got It (the Right Stuff)."

25. "We Danced" 2000

Candidates and their supporters are known for political spin, making every statement or action appear in their favor. During the 2000 presidential campaign, Belmont graduate Brad Paisley released a song that could be appropriate for political spin: "Me Neither." Later that year, he released a song that became No. 1 and reflected what both of the political candidates said they’ll do after the election: "We Danced."

24. "Achy Breaky Heart" 1992

In the spring of 1992, President George H.W. Bush was running for re-election while the Democratic candidates were involved in their primaries. Bill Clinton would emerge as the Democratic candidate at the Democrats’ July convention. On the radio was a huge hit by Billy Ray Cyrus. "Achy Breaky Heart" was No. 1 for five weeks on the country charts that year and also rose to No. 4 on the pop charts. That song may have expressed Bush’s feelings after Election Day.

23. "If I Can Dream" 1968

Richard Nixon wasn’t the only American figure who made a comeback in 1968. In November, Nixon was elected president, and the next month, Elvis Presley's "Comeback Special" was broadcast on NBC, which marked the singer’s return to live performances. His song, "If I Can Dream" entered the charts just before the TV special aired in December.

22. "Born in the U.S.A." 1984

Bruce Springsteen managed to have two songs that reflected the public's appetite during election years. In 1980, when Ronald Reagan defeated President Jimmy Carter, Springsteen’s "Hungry Heart" entered the charts on election week. One week after Election Day 1984, in which Ronald Reagan was re-elected president, Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." entered the pop charts.

21. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" 1964

A large portion of the American population became disenchanted with President Lyndon Johnson after his election in 1964. Could that be a reason that "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers entered the pop charts the month after the election and eventually became the most-played song in the history of radio?

20. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" 1932

The election of 1932 came in the depths of The Great Depression. That year, Bing Crosby had 15 chart records, including the No. 1 hit that became the definitive song of the era: "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?"

19. "Old Rough and Ready" 1848

Zachary Taylor was known as "Old Rough and Ready," which is a nickname he acquired during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842) because of his rumpled clothes and wide-brimmed straw hat.
He became a military hero during the Mexican War when he led his troops to several important victories.

Prior to the presidential campaign of 1848, Taylor had never run for election or even voted. A song written for his campaign and sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle" was:


We’ll sing a song to suit the times,
With voices bold and steady;
And cheerily we’ll tell in rhymes
of good old Rough and Ready;
His foes may slander as they can
and bluster at his manners;
Who cares a fig? He’s just the man
to lead the Yankee banners

18. "Little Vanny" 1840


Martin Van Buren was short; He stood only 5 feet 6 inches tall. The campaign of 1840 pitted the followers of William Henry Harrison and his vice presidential nominee, John Tyler, against the incumbent Martin Van Buren, who had been Andrew Jackson’s vice president before his own election.

Harrison’s forces rallied behind the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," but there was no such snappy phrase for Van Buren. In fact, the opposition used some nasty and negative campaigning during that election year. One song, "Little Vanny," stated:


You can’t make a song to Van Buren,
Because his long name will not do;
There’s nothin' about him allurin',
as there is about Tippecanoe!

Another song attacked Van Buren with the lines:


Who never did a noble deed?
Who of the people took no heed?

Who is the worst of tyrant’s breed?
Van Buren!

Who like the wily serpent clings,
Who like the poisonous adder stings,
Who is more base than basest Kings?
Van Buren!

Who would his friend, his country sell,
do other deeds too base to tell,
deserves the lowest place in Hell?
Van Buren!

17. "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!" 1840

During the campaign of 1840 in which William Henry Harrison ran against Martin Van Buren, we had what historians considered the nation’s first modern singing campaign. The slogan was "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," because Harrison was known as the military leader whose troops defeated the Indians at Tippecanoe in a battle against Tecumseh’s Indian Confederacy. One of the campaign songs stated:


Hurrah! For the farmer of Tippecanoe
The honest old farmer of Tippecanoe;
With an arm that is strong and a heart that is true
The man of the people is Tippecanoe!

The campaign slogan proved effective, and Harrison was elected President. But he served the shortest term of any president, dying 31 days after he took office. The elevation of Vice President John Tyler to the office of president caused a constitutional crisis because no other president before Harrison had died in office. Harrison’s death led to the 25th Amendment, which was passed in 1867.The amendment declared that the vice president would become president in the case of the death of a president in office.

16. "Just Before Election, Andy" 1868

Tennessee native Andrew Johnson was the military governor of Nashville during the Civil War. As Abraham Lincoln’s vice president during the 1864 election, Johnson became president after Lincoln was assassinated. But in the 1868 election, Johnson's vetoes of Congressional votes for civil rights to give citizenship to blacks led to a backlash against him. In the song "Just Before Election, Andy," anti-Johnson voters sang:


Just before election, Andy
We are thinking most of you;
While we get our ballots ready
Be sure they’re not for you;
No, dear Andy, you’ll not get them,
But you’ll get what you deserve;
Oh, yes, you’ll get your leave of absence
As you swing around the curve;
You have swung around the circle
That you ought to swing, ‘tis true;
Oh, you tried to veto Congress,
But I guess we’ll veto you

Johnson was defeated by Union Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant.

15. "Jimmy Polk of Tennessee" 1844

James K. Polk was a long-shot for president in the 1844 election. Polk was speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives in Nashville from 1835-1939. He was elected Governor in 1840. But Polk was defeated in the governor’s races in 1841 and 1843. John Tyler was the incumbent but he battled Henry Clay in the Whig party. Clay was famously quoted as saying "I’d rather be right than president." Clay may have gotten his wish as Polk was elected from the Democratic party.

The song "Jimmy Polk of Tennessee" was a campaign song during that campaign with the chorus:


Polk’s choice occasioned some surprise,
Good Democrats rolled up their eyes,
Our candidate, pray, who is he?

Why James K. Polk of Tennessee.

14. "Jackson's Toast" 1828

During the 1828 campaign when Nashville native Andrew Jackson was elected president, the song "Jackson’s Toast," sung to the melody of "Auld Lang Syne," was a campaign song for Jackson. The chorus was:


Then toast our Jackson, good and great,
The man whom we admire,
He soon will mount the chair of state,
Which patriots all desire

13. "Bouquet of Roses" 1948

During the presidential election year of 1948 in which Republican Thomas Dewey challenged incumbent Democrat Harry Truman, Nashville recording artist Eddy Arnold had nine chart singles, including four that were No. 1: "Anytime," "Bouquet of Roses," "Texarkana Baby," "Just a Little Lovin" and "A Heart Full of Love (For a Handful of Kisses)." The songs were No. 1 for a total of 50 out of the 52 weeks that year.

12. "I Will Always Love You" 1992

Just after election day in 1992, when Democrat Bill Clinton defeated incumbent Republican George H. W. Bush for the presidency, Whitney Houston’s recording of "I Will Always Love You" by Nashville songwriter Dolly Parton entered the charts; it would remain in the No. 1 position for 14 weeks the following year.

11. "Abraham, Martin and John" 1968

During the 1968 election year, Martin Luther King Jr. and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy were both assassinated. On Election Day that year, the song "Abraham, Martin and John" by Dion was on the charts.

10. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" 1960

When John F. Kennedy, D-Mass., ran against Richard Nixon, R-Calif., in 1960, Brenda Lee had three No. 1 singles, all of which were produced by Owen Bradley at the Quonset Hut, less than a mile from Belmont University’s campus. At the end of that year, she released her classic, "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree," which was also produced by Owen Bradley at the Quonset Hut.

9. "Buttons and Bows" 1948

During the 1948 Presidential campaign in which Harry Truman, D-Mo., was re-elected president against his Republican opponent, Thomas Dewey, R-N.Y., the No. 1 song for 10 weeks was "Buttons and Bows" by Dinah Shore. Shore got her start in Nashville singing for Owen Bradley’s big band at the Hermitage Hotel. Later, Bradley opened the Quonset Hut, the first recording studio in the area now known as Music Row. The Quonset Hut is now part of a building housing Belmont faculty and classrooms, which is owned by the Mike Curb Family Foundation.

8. "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" 1956

Just before Election Day 1956 when Dwight Eisenhower, R-Kan., defeated Adlai Stevenson, D-Ill., "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" by George Hamilton IV entered the pop charts. The song was written by Nashville songwriter John D. Loudermilk.

7. "I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell" 1960

When John F. Kennedy was elected president on Election Day in 1960, Elvis Presley was in a Los Angeles studio recording songs for his movie "Wild In The Country." Beginning the night before the election at 8 p.m. and continuing through to Election Day, Presley recorded "I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell" on the morning of the election.

6. "King Of the Road" 1964

In 1964, Nashville recording artist Roger Miller had his hits "Dang Me" and "Chug-A-Lug" on the charts, both of which were recorded at the Quonset Hut on Music Row. On Election Day -- when Lyndon Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater -- Miller was in the Quonset Hut studio recording his biggest hit, "King of the Road." The Quonset Hut is now part of the building housing Belmont faculty and classrooms. The Quonset Hut is now owned by the Mike Curb Family Foundation .

5. "The Candy Man" 1972

During the 1972 election, Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern to be reelected president. During that year, Sammy Davis Jr. had a major hit with "The Candy Man," a song that was backed by the Mike Curb Congregation. The song was No. 1. for three weeks. The song had previously been released by The Mike Curb Congregation, and Curb produced the Davis session. During the Republican convention in Miami, Davis and the Mike Curb Congregation performed the song for Nixon, who walked on the stage and received a big hug from Davis. The picture -- with Mike Curb in the background -- became a world famous photo.

4. "Puppy Love" 1972

When Richard Nixon ran for re-election against George McGovern in 1972, "Puppy Love" by Donny Osmond was a major hit. The song was produced by Mike Curb, who was then president of MGM Records. During the same year, another Curb produced record, "Down By the Lazy River," by the Osmonds, was also a big hit.

3. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 1960

During the election year of 1960, Elvis was released from the Army in March and came to RCA Studio B for a session. Two songs from that session, "It’s Now Or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" were No. 1 during that year. In fact, the week after the election of John F. Kennedy, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" reached the No. 1 spot on the pop chart and stayed there for six consecutive weeks. RCA Studio B is now operated by Belmont University where students take studio classes.

2. "Heartbreak Hotel" 1956

The election year of 1956 (Dwight Eisenhower-R vs. Adlai Stevenson-D) began with Elvis Presley in Nashville recording "Heartbreak Hotel" about a mile and a half from Belmont’s Campus . In the Spring, the record was released and remained No. 1 for eight consecutive weeks. That year Elvis had 17 songs on the pop charts, including five that were No. 1, which meant he held the top position on the pop charts for 25 weeks that year, made 11 national TV appearances and starred in his first movie, "Love Me Tender."

1. "Oh, Pretty Woman" 1964

"Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison was released during the summer of 1964 just after the conventions that nominated Lyndon Johnson, D-Texas, and Barry Goldwater, R-Arizona, for the presidency. The song was No. 1 for three weeks during the Fall campaign. The hit was recorded in Nashville a little more than a mile from Belmont’s Campus.

* Did we leave a song out that you would like to see on our list? Send us an e-mail!