Tuesday Morning Patriots -- 2020

I wrote this song on the fly while working with Wisconsin Democrats for the 2004 Presidential Election.  Hundreds of us were at a huge high school gym outside Milwaukee making phone calls to voters, urging votes for John Kerry for President (running against George W. Bush) and Russ Feingold for Senate (running against Tom Michaels).  

We had spent most of the weekend canvassing door-to-door, handing out literature and getting information about likely voters for our candidates so that they would be reminded to vote on Election Day, and also finding out who might need rides to the polls.  I was doing similar work in Illinois.

After hours of this we assembled in a large high school gym to enjoy refreshments and hear from speakers, including the candidates who were making the rounds of these events.  

Then the Master of Ceremonies asked if anyone would like to speak and to tell why this election was so important to them.  Several people spoke and their stories were wonderful!  While I was listening I was also writing on a scrap of paper.  

After a while there was a lull in volunteers, so I went up to the microphone and asked if I could sing a song.  The M.C. asked if it was clean!  I handed him the notes I'd just written and he asked me my name and announced that we had "our own Joni Mitchell" to sing for us, and handed me the mike.  

I quickly taught the crowd the "chorus" of "Tuesday Morning Patriots" and invited them to sing along with with each one.  Right away they were singing along with every chorus, clapping their hands and stamping their feet time!  The applause was terrific!   I'm happy if it inspired these wonderful people who came out to work for this election and so many others!  

Later I was thrilled to receive such a kind note from renowned songwriter-singer Joe Glazer -- also posted below.  

I think this song would be appropriate for 2020 as well, so I'm reprinting it here.  I must say that even though he was not our candidate back in 2004, George W. Bush looks pretty darned good today! 

Original music is printed below but music for Battle Hymn of the Republic works too! Try it! 

Tuesday Morning Patriots in 2020*

Our loyal troops in uniform are on the line for you, 

They do their job at any cost, I’m grateful that they do. 

But all of us can join the fight wherever we may be, 

‘Cause Tuesday Morning Patriots will keep our country free. 

Chorus (to be sung after each verse): 

Yes, Tuesday Morning Patriots are marching to the polls, 

To exercise their voting rights with fire in their souls, 

With ballots, not with bullets, 
They will send their message clear, 

Our country needs good leadership, 
The time is now, it’s here! 

Our right to vote has been secured by fire, blood and sweat, 

Millions struggled, fought and died, and we must not forget! 

Don’t let your country slip away, just let your voice be heard! 

Just SHOUT into that ballot box, they’ll hear your every word! 

Chorus: 

Never say that one small vote can’t turn this land around, 

One plus one, a million strong, will make a mighty sound! 

You have the choice: do nothing, and nothing's what you'll get, 

But take a small step to the polls, you'll make a winning bet!

Chorus: 

Make no complaint November fourth* when we get the news,

Of who will be sworn in to lead and who gets walking shoes;
Don't wait! November third* join voters proud to serve,
And let the slackers who stay home get just what they deserve!

Chorus: 

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* Lyrics (c) 2020 Joan D. Levin

Lead sheets for original music are printed below.  

Thanks to Laura Fenster for the nice printed one!  

 

I sent this song to Joe Glazer and received this lovely response!

 

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BACKSTORY FOR TUESDAY MORNING PATRIOTS

 The post Tuesday Morning Patriots has a little back story!

On a lovely early autumn Sunday in 2004 I was in Kenosha, Wisconsin working for Democrats in the upcoming election.  John Kerry was the Democratic candidate for President running against George W. Bush.  

We had spent most of the weekend going door to door canvassing and handing out literature for Democratic candidates -- not only for the presidency but for state and local offices as well.   

This was an area that could go either way, and we went from door to door ringing doorbells, handing out literature, and asking people whom they were likely to support.   With this information our Election Day workers could go to homes likely to support Democrats, reminding them to the polls, and checking to see if they needed rides or any other assistance to do this. 

After many hours of going door to door that day, we had assembled in a large and were enjoying refreshments and a program with several speakers, including some candidates, giving some pep talks.  After this, the emcee at the microphone asked if anyone in the audience would like to speak.  Several people were called on to come up to the microphone and gave some short pep talks.  

During this time a song idea came into my head.  It was to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic (that's how most songs come into my head). I wrote down the words as they came to me and quickly made up another tune.  

Then I raised my hand and was called on.  I ran up to the microphone and gave the emcee my name (Joan Levin) and said I'd written a song I'd like to sing.  He asked me if it had bad words and I assured him it didn't, so he announced over the loudspeaker that "our own Joni Mitchell is going to sing for us!)

I explained that the song had a chorus and sang through it once, inviting them to sing along after every verse.  

By the second verse everyone was singing along and clapping and stamping their feet!  It was amazing!  A really energized crowd at the end of a long working day!

Sadly - it wasn't enough to put John Kerry into office - but the song is posted here for anyone who wants to use it!

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SCHOOL PRAYER FOR 1981 IN THE REAGAN ERA

A spoof in the style of the Federal Register -- on the Occasion of the Election of President Ronald Reagan in 1980.  (He's looking pretty good from here in 2020!)

Notice of Proposed Prayermaking

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act of the promulgation of a School Prayer to be recited daily in all schools, public and private, in the United States and Territories.  

Comments should be dropped in the nearest trashcan.

The deadline for comments has Passed.

This shall henceforward be known as 

"The National School Prayer" 

The text appears below.

Proposed School Prayer

Lord, bless our Nation, keep us strong!

We’re happy Reagan's come along!

He will lead our country well, 

And blast her foes right straight to Hell!

Like Dillinger or Willie Sutton, 

Keep his finger on the button,

He will keep us safe from danger,

Without allies, our Lone Ranger!

Lord, we’re glad he’ll give the ax,

To every sort of federal tax,

And Dad and Mom are here to say,

Their jobs were silly anyway!

Our schools may start to crack and crumble,

But we’ll take heart in cannon rumble!

And if we’re sick without insurance?

We’ll trust “no left behind” assurance!  

Clean air is boring, give us smog,

And putrid water for our grog,

We won’t complain, or howl, or pick,

We love the taste of arsenic!    

Please send those pipelines where you will,

Let oil through mighty channels spill, 

Wild beasts won’t make our engines run,

So drive ‘em out by force or gun!

And Lord, we’d like our Pres to look,

Whenever we check out a book,

And when our cell phone starts to ring,

We hope he’ll hear ‘most everything!

The Ten Commandments are the best,

They’ll give our laws that extra zest,

On Saturdays, we’ll rest, that’s all!

No football games; no shopping mall!

And most of all, we pray to you,

In class, at lunch, and recess too:

Lord, bless our school, and keep it free,

Of children who don’t look like me!  

© 1981 Joan D. Levin