Program Note

“The Same Old Merry-Go-Round” is a 1948 campaign song for former Vice President Henry A. Wallace’s third-party presidential run on the Progressive Party ticket. The song equates the Republican and Democratic Parties as having “the same bit in their mouth[s]” and implores voters to support neither.

LYRICS (please join in on the chorus!)
The donkey is tired and thin.
The elephant thinks he’ll move in.
They yell and they fuss, but they’re not foolin’ us,
‘Cause they’re brothers under the skin.

It’s the same old merry-go-round,
Which one will you ride this year?
The donkey and elephant bob up and down
On the same old merry-go-round.

The elephant comes from the North.
The donkey may come from the South.
If you’ll look you’ll find the donkey’s behind
But they’ve got the same bit in their mouth.

It’s the same old merry-go-round,
Which one will you ride this year?
The donkey and elephant bob up and down
On the same old merry-go-round.

If you wanna end up safe and sound,
Get off o’ the merry-go-round.
To be a real smarty, just join The New Party party
And get your two feet on the ground!

It’s the same old merry-go-round,
Which one will you ride this year?
The donkey and elephant bob up and down
On the same old merry-go-round.

REPEAT CHORUS