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"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 cooperation
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!"
-- Albert Gamse's lyrics to
"Hail to the Chief" [additional info via
Wikipedia, which also lists the original lyrics by Sir
Walter Scott: Scott's poem
(The Lady of
the Lake) published in 1810; the stanzas labelled "Boat Song"
set to music by James Sanderson (Wikipedia says circa 1821 but
other sources say it was first performed in 1812, and first
performed to honour a US President in 1815); played to announce
President Polk's arrival at his inauguration in 1845; designated
the official music to introduce the President of the United States
in 1954 (to be preceeded by four
ruffles and flourishes). I don't know when this version of
the lyrics was written]
"If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost." -- Barack Obama
"A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'" -- Barack Obama