Hail To The Chief

[webofevil]

There are words to the Presidential fanfare, which tend not to get sung. Here’s why.

Hail To The Chief

Words by Albert Gamse
Music by James Sanderson

Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation,
Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all.
Hail to the Chief, as we pledge co-operation
In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call.

Yours is the aim to make this grand country grander,
This you will do, that’s our strong, firm belief.
Hail to the one we selected as commander,
Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief!

I sense inspiration running dry in the second verse. Although it’s a stretch to call the first verse “inspired” either.


Also, if anyone, like me, was still unaware that the tune of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was lifted in its entirety from an old English drinking song, be unaware no longer.


On the other hand, should any Brits get restive about the fact that “My Country, ’Tis Of Thee” gets sung to the tune of the British national anthem, it's worth remembering that the tune also serves as Liechtenstein’s national anthem—as well as having been that of, variously, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.

Comments

[strictlytrue.livejournal.com]

Now, this is odd. Because I definitely thought the first line was
"Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances"
and there are references to this line on Google, but not in direct connection with this song. I will go away and look at this matter.

[strictlytrue.livejournal.com]

OK - here's the deal:
A composer set verses from Walter Scott's The Lady in the Lake, including "Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances", to music. The tune for the "Hail to the Chief" bit was adopted by the US presidency, then someone else wrote some new, different and crapper words to the music.

Phew.