by Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864)

Hurrah for the Bigler boys
Language: English 
They say that Johnston’s up once more,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
But things ain’t now as they were before,
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.
Then he run his face in a Taylor shop,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
But the Taylor’s gone and he has no prop.
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.

Going to run again?
Johnston you're insane!
I’ll bet my money on the Bigler boys
For the Whigs have had their reign.

2. In California, I am told,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
They’ve made a banner trimmed with gold.
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.
If Bigler here beats Bigler there,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
This golden trophy we shall wear.
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.

Going to run again?
Johnston you're insane!
I’ll bet my money on the Bigler boys
For the Whigs have had their reign.

3. The Constitution is our theme,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
And Union is our cherished dream.
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.
If South Carolina makes a fuss.
        Hurrah, hurrah!
Oh, why should we be in the muss?
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.

Going to run again?
Johnston you're insane!
I’ll bet my money on the Bigler boys
For the Whigs have had their reign.

4. When soldiers for their country bled,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
And had to beg for their daily bread.
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.
They little knew that the Federal clan
        Hurrah, hurrah!
Would take up Strome for their right hand man!
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.

Going to run again?
Johnston you're insane!
I’ll bet my money on the Bigler boys
For the Whigs have had their reign.

5. We’ve let the Whigs elect an ass,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
But now we’ll tun him out to grass,
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.
For when the tug of war is over,
        Hurrah, hurrah!
The Democrats will live in the clover.
        Hurrah for the Bigler boys.

Going to run again?
Johnston you're insane!
I’ll bet my money on the Bigler boys
For the Whigs have had their reign.

Notes (provided by Laura Prichard): The Democratic governor candidates for Pennsylvania and California were the brothers William and John Bigler. For the Pennsylvania campaign, William F. Johnston was the imcumbent Pennsylvania governor and Zachary Taylor was the president.

Authorship

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

  • by Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864), "Hurrah for the Bigler boys", 1851, note: Stephen Foster wrote this set of lyrics to be sung to his tune “Camptown Races.” Appears in Foster’s sketchbook, held by the University of Pittsburgh [
     text verified 1 time
    ]

Researcher for this text: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2016-06-05
Line count: 60
Word count: 326