The Laborer on Election Day performed by Katherine Rhoda
Though pre-19th Amendment and thus about male voters only, The Laborer on Election Day, from the 1874 songbook The Trumpet of Reform: A Collection of Songs, Hymns, Chants and Set Pieces for the Grange, the Club, and All Industrial & Reform Organizations, is worth a look. Words are by J.G. Whittier, who I assume to be Quaker poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier, and music by G.F. Root, presumably George F. Root who edited the collection and who wrote a number of noted Civil War songs. The whole songbook can be downloaded for free at https://archive.org/details/reformc00root This song is #76, on p. 81 of the PDF.
Read more from Katherine about historical songs about voting here.
Today I got to go and cast a vote All privileged and loaded up with hope I will never take this right for granted, nope Today I got to go and cast a vote
I voted for a guy I know named Dan But it wasn’t just because I know him, he’s an honest man He does the things he says that he will do How many politicians do you know for whom that’s true?
It’s my observation that candidates will say the things They think that their constituents want to hear In order to get voted in, they make up stuff, accuse and spin Misinform, exaggerate, and smear
What about the rest of us, the ones who pay their salaries Left scratching our collective heads for lack of Decent health insurance, Wall Street bungling, Headline jumbling, sound bite chewing venom spewing, Let’s agree to disagree and have a conversation
Today I get to go and cast a vote I hope the votes are counted fairly in those envelopes I will never take this right for granted, nope Today I got to go and cast a vote
I’m not up for any office, but if pressed I’d make a platform On which I could stand and there’d be lots of room for you How ‘bout this, take care of business here at home and With what’s left we’ll go around the world and do the best that we can do
Then I’d figure out how we could rout about three trillion dollars Pull it out of fighting, how ‘bout housing, education Weaning off of fossil fuel, some environment protection, Love and let love, we’ve got a big election…
I’d add a dose of foresight, unlike many corporations seeking Short-term profit, making money quickly as they can On my platform there’d be room for long term planning, Nonsense banning, budgets spanning lifetimes so our kids will have a chance
But I’m not running, I’m just voting, I’ll be toting my agenda More addenda coming as we fashion our new visions Starting here and now with Dan, I still believe it, yes we can With powerful and personal decisions
Today I get to go and cast a vote All privileged and loaded up with hope I will never take this right for granted, nope Today I got to go and cast a vote Other countries in the world please take note
Sharleen Leahey performs “The Woman Suffrage Song” at the 4th Annual Women’s Work Concert at the Howland Arts Center in Beacon, NY. The song chronicles the 72-year-long struggle American women waged for the right to vote. This year we celebrate the Centennial of the passage of the 19th amendment on August 26, 1920. in celebration of the Centennial!
Tell me why just being who you are should be a crime Why the color of my skin determines if that fate is mine If Jesus Christ were here, he would be weeping for us all ‘Cause if we can’t lift each other up, together we will fall And you can say “That’s not my problem”, sit out on the sidelines Or you can join in the fight Either way it’s a decision, one you’ll have to live with In the struggle between wrong and right Oh, I believe together we can be unstoppable Yes, I believe in America the possible For every name heard in the news, ten thousand more unknown Living in the shadows of a promise they have not been shown Behind our differences we share a common dream A country where all people live in peace and harmony And we can say “That’s not our problem”, sit out on the sidelines Or we can join in the fight Either way it’s a decision, one we’ll have to live with In the struggle between wrong and right Oh, I believe together we can be unstoppable Yes, I believe in America the possible Some say “Do unto others…” Some say “Every man for himself” Me, I want to live in a country where worth isn’t measured By race, religion, gender, or wealth Sometimes the lines get drawn, sometimes the truth gets lost Between victim and oppressor, we may never know the cost Maybe we can’t undo the damage of the past But we can start right here, right now to find true freedom… at last At last, oh at last I won’t say “That’s not my problem”, I won’t sit out on the sidelines I’m gonna join in this fight ‘Cause I know that my decision, is one I’ll have to live with For the rest of my life Oh, I believe together we can be unstoppable Yes, I believe in America the possible Yes, I believe in America… I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America And to the republic for which it stands One nation, under God, Indivisible With liberty and justice… for all… It’s for all… It’s for ALL… Ooh