Program Note

“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”, originally published as “Tip and Ty”, was a popular and influential campaign song of the Whig Party’s colorful Log Cabin Campaign in the 1840 United States presidential election. Its lyrics sang the praises of Whig candidates William Henry Harrison (the “hero of Tippecanoe”) and John Tyler, while denigrating incumbent Democrat Martin Van Buren.

Folk music critic Irwin Silber wrote that the song “firmly established the power of singing as a campaign device” in the United States, and that this and the other songs of 1840 represent a “Great Divide” in the development of American campaign music.The North American Review at the time even remarked that the song was, “in the political canvas of 1840 what the Marseillaise was to the French Revolution. It sang Harrison into the presidency.”

Today, the slogan Tippecanoe and Tyler Too is better remembered than the song.

LYRICS
What’s the cause of this commotion, motion, motion, Our country through?
It is the ball a-rolling on
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
And with them we’ll beat little Van, Van, Van, Van is a used up man.
And with them we’ll beat little Van.

Like the rushing of mighty waters, waters waters, On it will go!
And in its course will clear the way
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
And with them we’ll beat little Van, Van, Van, Van is a used up man.
And with them we’ll beat little Van.

Let them talk about hard cider, cider, cider, And Log Cabins too,
It will only help to speed the ball
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
And with them we’ll beat little Van, Van, Van, Van is a used up man.
And with them we’ll beat little Van.

Little Matty’s days are numbered, numbered, numbered, Out he must go!
And in his place we’ll put the good
Old Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
Old Tippecanoe and Tyler too.
And with them we’ll beat little Van, Van, Van, Van is a used up man.
And with them we’ll beat little Van.