White House Blues 3:14
(Traditional)

(right-click to download)

Roosevelt’s in the White House, he’s doing his best.
McKinley’s in the graveyard, he’s taking his rest.
He is gone, solid gone.

The Doc come a-running, he took off his specs,
Said, “Mr. McKinley, better cash in your checks.
You’re bound to die, bound to die.”

McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled.
Doc said to McKinley, “I can’t find that ball.”
It’s hard times, hard times.

Ain’t but one thing that grieves my mind -
That is to die and leave my poor wife behind.
I’m gone a long, long time.

Look-it here you rascal, look see what you have done -
You’ve shot my poor husband with that Iver Johnson gun.
He is gone, solid gone.

McKinley’s in the sleeper all trimmed up in lace.
Please carry him to the baggage,
boys, where I can’t see his face.
It’s hard times, hard times.

Hush up, little children, now don’t you fret -
You’ll draw a pension at your papa’s death.
He’ll be gone a long long time.

Milwaukee Blues

Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms

Shootin' Creek

White House Blues

The engine, she whistled all up and down the line,
Blowing at every station that McKinley was a-dyin’,
From Buffalo to Washington.

Roosevelt’s in the White House, drinking from a silver cup.
McKinley‘s in the graveyard, he never will never wake up.
He is gone, solid gone.

Loudon Wainwright III guitar, vocal
David Mansfield mandolin
Chaim Tannenbaum banjo

The nation was shook when anarchist Leon Czolgosz opened fire on William McKinley on September 6, 1901 at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo. The doctors couldn’t find one of the bullets, gave up and closed the wound - he died about a week later of gangrene. The song pretty faithfully recounts the sad history, and when Poole recorded it in 1926, it must still have struck a chord. McKinley is not generally regarded as one of our best presidents, but he was the president.

Public Domain and, as adapted and arranged, published by Snowden Music (ASCAP) and Two Fourteen Music (Administered by Spirit One Music) (BMI)

& © 2nd Story Sound Records

For more information contact Matt Hanks or Nick Loss-Eaton at Shore Fire Media (718) 522-7171
mhanks@shorefire.com nlosseaton@shorefire.com