Lyr Add: The Old Granite State (Campaign Song

Subject: ADD: The Old Granite State (Campaign Songs)
From: voyager
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 10:46 PM

Last October we started a thread on Presidential
Campaign songs (with reference to an Oscar Brand CD.
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=14522&messages=5

The lyrics that got me started on the subject came from
a visit to the Hillsboro, New Hampshire homestead of
FRANKLIN PIERCE - our 15th president. Please take
note of the chorus.

Credit for this thread go to Christina Chadwick of the Hillsboro Historical Society`who mailed me the lyrics. Original citation was given to the History of Hillsboro by C. Browne c. 1921.

THE OLD GRANITE STATE
---------------------

Come, let's put the ball in motion,
Let us raise a great commotion,
For the Democratic notion
From the old Granite State.
Oh, come forth from hill and valley,
From the mountains let us sally
Round our candidate we'll rally,
Frol the old Granite State.

CHORUS
We're a band of locos, we're a band of locos,
We're a band of locos, and we'll shout for Pierce and King

Franklin Pierce's nomination
Meets the people's approbation.
'Twas the nicest calculation
Of the old Virginia State.
Oh, the Whigs are getting weary,
For their prospects are but dreary,
There is nothing for them cheer
From the old Granite State.

CHORUS

Franklin Pierce's elevation
Will do honor to the nation,
For he bears that reputation
In the old Granite State.
While this story we are telling,
Oh, we know with rage you're swelling,
But the Empire keeps propelling
For the old Granite State.

CHORUS

For the Union we're united,
And to that our faith is plighted,
For they've sworn to see it righted
In the old Granite State.
So you may as well retire,
For into your rear we'll fire,
Old Virginia never tires
With the old Granite State.

CHORUS

Tim Weil (aka voyager)
Silver Spring, Maryland

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Old Granite State (Campaign Song
From: Sourdough
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 12:07 AM

Thanks for the lyric -

Sourdough (formerly of Hillsborough County, NH)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Old Granite State (Campaign Song
From: Dale Rose
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 12:58 AM

Well, it seems related and likely descended from The Old Granite State of the Hutchinson Family which is right here in our own DigiTrad. The notes also indicate that they sang it for President Tyler at the White House in 1844. Last year, I entered the lyrics for Abby Hutchinson's Kind Words Can Never Die. You might want to check into that thread for more information about New Hampshire's Hutchinson Family, possibly the best known singing group of the 19th century.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Old Granite State (Campaign Song
From: paddymac
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 10:00 AM

voyager - the lyric seems to have a natural cadence to it. What tune is it sung to?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Old Granite State (Campaign Song
From: Dale Rose
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 10:51 AM

If it really is derived from the Hutchinsons' Granite State, then check the link that I gave ~~ the midi is on the page. Also, you can check sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. Like I said before, this seems realistic to me, especially the way the songs are set up and the phrasing of band of locos which seems to fit right in with the phrasing of band of brothers.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD GRANITE STATE (Hutchinson Family)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 06:25 PM

This seems to be an older version of THE OLD GRANITE STATE than the one in DigiTrad. It doesn't have the verses about Emancipation, and it has a couple of verses the DT doesn't have.

From The Library of Congress American Memory Collection

THE OLD GRANITE STATE
(Hutchinson Family, 1843)

1. We have come from the mountains (3x)
    From the "Old Granite State."
We're a band of brothers (3x)
    And we live among the hills.
With a band of music (3x)
    We are passing 'round the world.

2. We have left our aged parents (3x)
    In the "Old Granite State."
We obtain'd their blessing (3x)
    And we bless them in return.
Good old fashion'd singers, (3x)
    They can make the air resound.

3. We have eight other Brothers,
And of Sisters, just another,
Besides our Father and our Mother,
    In the "Old Granite State."
With our present number,
There are fifteen in the tribe;
Thirteen sons and daughters,
    And their history we bring.

4. Yes, while the air is ringing,
With their wild mountains singing,
We the news to you are bringing
    From the "Old Granite State."
'Tis the tribe of Jesse, (3x)
    And their several names we sing.

5. David, Noah, Andrew, Zephy [Zephaniah],
Caleb, Joshua, Jess, and Benny [Benjamin],
Judson, Rhoda, John, and Asa,
    And Abbe are our names.
We're the sons of Mary,
Of the tribe of Jesse,
And we now address ye
    With our native mountain song.

6. We are all real Yankees, (3x)
    From the "Old Granite State."
And by prudent guessing, (3x)
   We shall whittle through the world.

7. We are all Washingtonians,
Yes, we're all Washingtonians,
Heav'n bless the Washingtonians,
    Of the "Old Granite State."
We are all teetotalers, (3x)
    And have signed the Temp'rance pledge.

8. Now three cheers altogether.
Shout Columbia people ever.
Yankee hearts none can sever,
    In the "Old Sister States."
Like our Sires before us,
We will swell the chorus,
Till the Heavens o'er us
    Shall rebound the loud huzza.

9. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! (2x)
Like our Sires before us,
We will swell the chorus,
Till the Heavens o'er us
    Shall rebound the loud huzza.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Old Granite State (Campaign Song
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 16 May 04 - 07:45 PM

Actually, Franklin Pierce was the nation's 14th President (1853-1857)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Old Granite State (Campaign Song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 16 May 04 - 09:03 PM

The link to the 1843 edition (New York: Firth and Hall) at American Memory. Also the Oliver Ditson edition at the Levy collection.

Title: The Old Granite State. A Song.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Composed, Arranged, and Sung By The Hutchinson Family.
Publication: Boston: Oliver Ditson, Washington St., 1843.
Form of Composition: strophic
Instrumentation: piano and voice (satb)
First Line: We have come from the mountains, We have come from the mountains
Performer: [The Hutchinson Family]