Here's some excerpts and one example from that site:
Political music was written to stir the emotions, generate candidate support, and cast doubt on the opposition. Many of the lyrics in the 1800's were set to popular tunes of the day such as "John Brown's Body,""Go Tell Aunt Rody," "Yankee Doodle," and "Battle Cry of Freedom." The following is one example of words set to an existing tune.
Zachary Taylor, Whig 1848 Rough and Ready - Celebrates Taylor's Military Career Words by Alfred Wheeler Tune: "Yankee Doodle" Published By: Firth, Hall & Pond, New York, N.Y., 1847
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.
In Florida he gained a name That won our admiration, And loudly has his gallant fame Been echoed thro' the nation. There's not a heart in all the land, That beats not firm and steady, For the hero of the Rio Grande, Old gallant Rough and Ready.
At Monterrey he showed the world That Yankees ne'er are daunted, The flag of freedom he unfurled, And on the towers planted; And there it waves in triumph high 'Mid freemen bold and steady, A monument to every eye Of gallant Rough and Ready.
Old Zach's the boy for Santa Anna, Ampudia or Arista, And long 'twill be ere they forget The field of Buena Vista. Though legions of the foeman swarm, Against our brave defenders, Old Rough and Ready they will find The man who ne'er surrenders.
Success has aye with glory bright Upon his path attended, And give him but the chance to fight, The war will soon be ended. And never shall Columbia cease To cherish long and steady, The man in war and peace, The same old Rough and Ready.
Now we predict it won't be long, In spite of Madam Rumor, Before we sing this very song In the Halls of Montezuma. And then we'll shout in chorus strong, With voices firm and steady, And this the burden of our song, Old gallant Rough and Ready.
Chorus: Then Rough and Ready let it ring, And set the bells a chiming, Where'er we go we're bound to sing His praises in our rhyming.
Original music was also created. Marches were very popular in the 1800's as was Ragtime in the campaigns of the early twentieth century."
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That page on that site features one other example of a political song.