Chorus. Tempo di marcia.
(Tramping of the feet.)
Tramp, tramp, tramp, hear the Elephants going to Washington,
Tramp, tramp, tramp, hear the Donkey is moving away.
Imitate donkey braying.
We've had quite enough of this Democrat rule,
We'll send them right back to their thirty years' school,
And when they get out Uncle Sam is a fool,
For we want McKinley Protection.

2.
Even here in New Jersey you notice we say,
"We want McKinley Protection!"
We've joined the old Union and come in to stay,
We want McKinley Protection.
We've race tracks and combines and such things of late,
That ev'ry good citizen honestly hates,
So we kicked the old donkey clan out of the state
And we want McKinley Protection!

Chorus.

3.
And old West Virginia has joined in the throng,
They want McKinley Protection!
The bill of their "William" was somewhat too long,
They want McKinley Protection.
But the great politician soon weathered the gale,
And found a nice shelter from partizan hail,
They found he was good to carry the mail
When he couldn't fool with Protection!

Chorus.

4.
When you look the thing over it's not very queer,
We want McKinley Protection,
We're running in debt fifty millions a year,
Without McKinley protection.
We've had Coxey's armies and tramps by the score,
Poor people are suffering the whole country o'er,
Just figure it up with fifty years more,
Without McKinley Protection.

Chorus.

5.
But things will be cheaper, the great speakers say,
Without McKinley Protection;
"The tariff is a tax," and we'll sweep it away,
Without McKinley Protection;
"Just look," said the speaker, "at this derby hat,
You'll pay but a dollar for a beauty like that.
"But, begorra, we don't got the dollar," said Pat,
Without McKinley Protection.

Chorus.

6.
We won't have a fifty cent dollar, you know,
When we get McKinley Protection,
But a dollar that's good just wherever you go,
When we get McKinley Protection.
There'll be no more anarchy, riot and shame,
To mar the fair sound of America's name,
But we'll have law and order from Texas to Maine,
When we get McKinley Protection.

Chorus.

7.
Our great manufact'ries are all standing still,
Without McKinley Protection.
That's why all the gold is locked up in the till,
Without McKinley Protection,
Just shut up our markets to the foreigner's mill,
And give us – the laborers, a chance at the till,
And we'll bring back prosperity over the hill,
When we get McKinley Protection.

Chorus.

8.
We'll look out for the Senate and Congress, you know,
For we want McKinley Protection,
The Silver-free-traders have all got to go,
For we want McKinley Protection.
Uncle Guss may keep blowing his free silver horn,
Like the little boy blue with his cows in the corn,
We'll elect Mahlon Pethey as sure as you're born,
For we want McKinley Protection.

Chorus.

9.
So all the great nation has joined in the throng,
They want McKinley Protection,
East, West, North and South alike push it along,
They want McKinley Protection.
We'll put up no longer with popocrat tricks,
'T will bankrupt the nation their blunders to fix,
And when the vote's counted November next,
We'll have McKinley Protection.

Chorus last verse.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, goes McKinley and Hobart to Washington,
Tramp tramp, tramp, and Grover is moving away,
We'll put up no longer with Popocrat tricks,
Twill bankrupt The nation their blunders to fix,
And when the vote's counted November next,
We'll have McKinley Protection.

        A                      D        (Bm)
  The voice of the nation goes up in a shout,
       E     (7)      A
  We want McKinley Protection!
  Republicans in, and the Democrats out,
  We want McKinley Protection.
       C#                       F#m
  Our forges are cold and our factories still.
         B7                                    E(7)
  Every day seems like Sunday down by the old mill;
  They all were running like water down hill,
  When we had McKinley Protection!
  
  (Chorus. Tempo di marcia with Tramping of the feet.)
    E     Eb°    Ab°         A             E7       A  (E7) A
  Tramp, tramp, tramp, hear the Elephants going to Washington,
   D       A      Ab°            B7               E(7)
  Tramp, tramp, tramp, hear the Donkey is moving away. (Imitate donkey braying)
         A                         D
  We've had quite enough of this Democrat rule,
         E(7)                           A
  We'll send them right back to their thirty years' school,
      C#                      Bm        /D
  And when they get out Uncle Sam is a fool,
  For we want McKinley Protection.
   
  Even here in New Jersey you notice we say,
  We want McKinley Protection!
  We've joined the old Union and come in to stay,
  We want McKinley Protection.
  We've race tracks and combines and such things of late,
  That ev'ry good citizen honestly hates,
  So we kicked the old donkey clan out of the state
  And we want McKinley Protection!
   
  And old West Virginia has joined in the throng,
  They want McKinley Protection!
  The bill of their William was somewhat too long,
  They want McKinley Protection.
  But the great politician soon weathered the gale,
  And found a nice shelter from partizan hail,
  They found he was good to carry the mail
  When he couldn't fool with Protection!
   
  When you look the thing over it's not very queer,
  We want McKinley Protection,
  We're running in debt fifty millions a year,
  Without McKinley protection.
  We've had Coxey's armies and tramps by the score,
  Poor people are suffering the whole country o'er,
  Just figure it up with fifty years more,
  Without McKinley Protection.
   
  But things will be cheaper, the great speakers say,
  Without McKinley Protection;
  The tariff is a tax, and we'll sweep it away,
  Without McKinley Protection;
  Just look, said the speaker, at this derby hat,
  You'll pay but a dollar for a beauty like that.
  But, begorra, we don't got the dollar, said Pat,
  Without McKinley Protection.
   
  We won't have a fifty cent dollar, you know,
  When we get McKinley Protection,
  But a dollar that's good just wherever you go,
  When we get McKinley Protection.
  There'll be no more anarchy, riot and shame,
  To mar the fair sound of America's name,
  But we'll have law and order from Texas to Maine,
  When we get McKinley Protection.
   
  Our great manufact'ries are all standing still,
  Without McKinley Protection.
  That's why all the gold is locked up in the till,
  Without McKinley Protection,
  Just shut up our markets to the foreigner's mill,
  And give us – the laborers, a chance at the till,
  And we'll bring back prosperity over the hill,
  When we get McKinley Protection.
   
  We'll look out for the Senate and Congress, you know,
  For we want McKinley Protection,
  The Silver-free-traders have all got to go,
  For we want McKinley Protection.
  Uncle Guss may keep blowing his free silver horn,
  Like the little boy blue with his cows in the corn,
  We'll elect Mahlon Pethey as sure as you're born,
  For we want McKinley Protection.
   
  So all the great nation has joined in the throng,
  They want McKinley Protection,
  East, West, North and South alike push it along,
  They want McKinley Protection.
  We'll put up no longer with popocrat tricks,
  'T will bankrupt the nation their blunders to fix,
  And when the vote's counted November next,
  We'll have McKinley Protection.
   
  Tramp, tramp, tramp, goes McKinley and Hobart to Washington,
  Tramp tramp, tramp, and Grover is moving away,
  We'll put up no longer with Popocrat tricks,
  Twill bankrupt The nation their blunders to fix,
  And when the vote's counted November next,
  We'll have McKinley Protection. 
  
  [Song and Chorus, McKinley Protection. Date: 1896.