For most holidays, you can find music that's generally of the celebratory sort. When it comes to Presidents' Day, however, the selection is more of a mixed bag. From the obscure references ("Whip It") to the general ("Presidents and Magistrates") to the more obvious ("James K. Polk"), the American president has been alternately lauded and pummeled in song. In putting together this playlist, more often we've found it's been the latter. Take a spin through our list of 13 presidential songs, one-by-one with selected lyrics/explanations, or in full below, and let us know what we missed in the comments.
They Might Be Giants, "James K. Polk"
In 1844, the Democrats were split/The three nominees for the presidential candidate/Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist/James Buchanan, a moderate/Louis Cass, a general and expansionist/From Nashville came a dark horse riding up/He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
Blackalicious, "Paragraph President"
Paragraph president/as a special treat this evening/I have asked America's foremost young poet to read his latest poem for us
James Brown, "Funky President (People Its Bad)"
I've got a brand new funky president/And hey, I need to be the mayor/So I can change the things around here/I need to be the governor, huh/I need to be the governor, huh
The Legendary K.O., "George Bush Don't Like Black People"
This mash-up released after Hurricane Katrina sampes from Kanye West's song "Gold Digger," and gets its refrain from West's infamous quote, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Bright Eyes, "When the President Talks to God"
When the president talks to God/Are the consonants all hard or soft?/Is he resolute all down the line?/Is every issue black or white?/Does what God say ever change his mind/When the president talks to God?
Pink and the Indigo Girls, "Dear Mr. President"
Dear Mr. President/Come take a walk with me/Let's pretend we're just two people and/You're not better than me
Ella Fitzgerald, "Franklin D. Roosevelt Jones"
The Jones family has a brand new heir/He's the joy heaven sent/And they proudly present/Mister Franklin D. Roosevelt Jones
Young Jeezy ft. Nas, "My President Is Black"
My president is black, my Lambo's blue/And I'll be goddamned if my rims ain't too
Devo, "Whip It"
Devo's Mark Mosthersbaugh on the inspiration for "Whip It": "We had just done our second world tour when we started writing our third album. The one thing that we were impressed with that we noticed everywhere around the world was that everybody was totally freaked out by American politics and American foreign policy. At the time, Jimmy Carter was in charge. I thought of "Whip It" as kind of a Dale Carnegie, "You Can Do It" song for Jimmy Carter. We were like, 'Jimmy Carter's a good guy, but he vacillates on his foreign policy.'" Sufjan Stevens, "Presidents and Magistrates"
Presidents and magistrates/spend on golf/and spring vacation/(Peace to me! We are the holy ones!)
Super Furry Animals, "Presidential Suite"
You know that we belong/In a presidential suite/Armed guards in the street/Waving back at crowds who greet/And when I look over/Over my shoulder/I can't see my past/It seems so far away
Lou Reed, "The Day John Kennedy Died"
I dreamed I was the president of these United States/I dreamed I replaced ignorance, stupidity and hate/I dreamed the perfect union and a perfect law, undenied/And most of all I dreamed I forgot the day John Kennedy died
Manic Street Preachers, "The Love of Richard Nixon"
The love of Richard Nixon, death without assassination/The love of Richard Nixon, yeah they all betrayed you/The love of Richard Nixon, death without assassination/Yeah they all betrayed you/Yeah and your country too
Spin the playlist in full:
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.