James K. Polk (song)
1990 single by They Might Be Giants / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"James K. Polk" is a song by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, about the United States president of the same name. Originally released in 1990 as a B-side to the single "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)", its first appearance on a studio album was 1996's Factory Showroom. It also appeared on their compilation albums Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants and A User's Guide to They Might Be Giants. The song is about James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States, beginning with a description of the 1844 Democratic National Convention and going on to cover some of the highlights of Polk's presidency. Although the band set out to write a song consisting entirely of historical facts, it includes a few errors or misstatements.
"James K. Polk" | |
---|---|
Single by They Might Be Giants | |
from the album Factory Showroom | |
A-side | "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" |
Released | May 14, 1990 (1990-05-14) October 8, 1996 (Factory Showroom re-recording) |
Genre | Alternative rock |
Length | 3:16 |
Label | Elektra |
Composer(s) | |
Lyricist(s) |
|
Producer(s) | They Might Be Giants |
The Factory Showroom re-recording of "James K. Polk" includes an interlude featuring Julian Koster playing a musical saw. The song has become a fan favorite and is frequently played live, although the band has expressed antipathy towards Polk himself; John Flansburgh has described Polk as "evil".[1]