If A Song Could Be President
If a song could be president
We’d hum on Election Day
The gospel choir would start to sway
And we’d all have a part to play
The first lady would free her hips
Pull a microphone to her lips
Break our hearts with Rhythm and Blues
Steve Earle would anchor the news
We’d vote for a melody
Pass it around on an MP3
All our best foreign policy
Would be built on harmony
If a song could be president
We’d fly a jukebox to the moon
All our founding fathers’ 45’s
Lightnin’ Hopkins and Patsy Cline
If a song could be president
If a song could be president
We could all add another verse
Life would teach us to rehearse
Till we found a key change
Break out of this minor key
Half-truths and hypocrisy
We wouldn’t need an underachiever-in-chief
If a song could be president
We’d make Neil Young a Senator
Even though he came from Canada
Emmylou would be Ambassador
World leaders would listen to her
They would show us where our country went wrong
Strum their guitars on the White House lawn
John Prine would run the FBI
All the criminals would laugh and cry
If a song could be president

6 comments
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October 16, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Beth
Hi there,
I found your blog through Haven Kimmel’s blog and just wanted to say I love the song – If A Song Could be President. I will check out Over the Rhine. I love Dar Williams, too. Have you heard her new album Promised Land?
October 16, 2008 at 9:45 pm
almostclouds
oh, Beth, we would DEFINITELY be friends! Dar Williams is my hero. And yep, I have the new CD and am going to see her in concert in just a few weeks!
October 16, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Beth
I’m green with envy…have never seen her live. I love the song Buzzer. What unbelievable lyrics.
October 16, 2008 at 9:50 pm
almostclouds
exactly. i consider she and haven to be equal geniuses when it comes to word craft.
October 17, 2008 at 8:52 pm
George Stuteville
Wow…that was a great tune. Thanks so much for sharing that tune. Good to see you over at Haven’s blog. What a great place, what great people. Like you.
October 17, 2008 at 9:10 pm
almostclouds
thanks George! i am so glad to have “met” you all!