Ben Franklin

Did you know Benjamin Franklin was an avid poet/lyricist?

He enjoyed using familiar rhyming schemes and popular melodies as vehicles for his often acerbic wit. The following is an example of Ben’s take on those who are just a bit less than genuine:

EQUIVOCATION

by: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

• OME have learn’t many tricks of sly evasion,

  Instead of truth they use equivocation,

  And eke it out with mental reservation,

  Which, to good men, is an abomination.

  Our smith of late most wonderfully swore,

  That whilst he breathed he would drink no more,

  But since, I know his meaning, for I think,

  He meant he would not breathe whilst he did drink.

“Equivocation” is reprinted from Poor Richard’s Almanack. January, 1736.

In the spirit of the founding father at the heart of this blog, I offer my own bit of verse as a reaction to the recent confrontations, manipulations and cynical machinations of a former U.S. president and his would-be president spouse:

I’m Billary, You Bet I Am
©2008 TS Tyler All Rights Reserved

Sung to the tune of
Herman’s Hermits’
I’m Henry VIII I Am
(MurrayWeston)
- written in 1911
- popularized in England by Harry Champion

I’m Billary, you bet I am
Hillary’s my name and Bill’s my man
We were your president two times before
Praise the internet and old Al Gore
And now we’re back – yes - it’s Billary (Billary)
Now we can both be President again (again)
So go out and vote for Billary
Billary for Prez again!

Second verse lame as the first

I’m Billary, I’m not Hussein
That’s Barack Obama’s middle name
He’s a Halfrican who shoots up dope
I’m a cracker from a town called Hope
It’s two for one – yes - it’s Billary (Billary)
Yeah, you can have a woman and a man (a man)
So go out and vote for Billary
Billary for Prez again!

I’m Billary, you bet I am
Hillary’s my name and Bill’s my man
We were your president two times before
Praise the internet and old Al Gore
And now we’re back – yes - it’s Billary (Billary)
Now we can both be President again (again)
So go out and vote for Billary
Billary for Prez again!

B-I-L-L-A-R-Y
Billary (Billary)
Billary (Billary)
Billary until the bitter end
Billary for Prez again!

Yeah!

*************************************

Okay, so I’m no Ben Franklin. But then, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton are no fearless leaders, either.