William McKinley by Electric Needle Room Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Religious man from Ohio
Last President to fight in the Civil War
Loved the gold standard
Raised tariffs higher than they'd ever been before
Took care of sick wife Ida
Said destiny was in God's hands (oh yeah)
Twice he defeated the charismatic speaker William Jennings Bryan
Believed in Manifest Destiny
But didn't want to be labeled an expansionist
Unknowingly sparked the beginning of U.S. imperialism
The Spanish American War
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, The Philippines
Were taken and soon it would seem the U.S. empire achieved its dream
[Chorus]
William McKinley striked gold
Didn't know bad things would unfold
William McKinley was bold
Influenced by lies they told
[Bridge]
First not expansionist
Later imperialist
First not expansionist
Later imperialist
Hawaii, Philippines, Panama Canal
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, Boxer Rebellion
Justify it, by saying it's "God's will"
[Verse 2]
He freed the colonies from Spain
Then ordered them under U.S. control
He never wanted wars of conquest but public pressure would change his mind
Helped the country gain power
But assassinated in his second term
And his vice TR would soon do much more than was ever done before
[Chorus]
William McKinley striked gold
Didn't know bad things would unfold
William McKinley was bold (William McKinley was bold)
Influenced by lies they told (Influenced by lies they told)
(Da da da dada da da)
Religious man from Ohio
Last President to fight in the Civil War
Loved the gold standard
Raised tariffs higher than they'd ever been before
Took care of sick wife Ida
Said destiny was in God's hands (oh yeah)
Twice he defeated the charismatic speaker William Jennings Bryan
Believed in Manifest Destiny
But didn't want to be labeled an expansionist
Unknowingly sparked the beginning of U.S. imperialism
The Spanish American War
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, The Philippines
Were taken and soon it would seem the U.S. empire achieved its dream
[Chorus]
William McKinley striked gold
Didn't know bad things would unfold
William McKinley was bold
Influenced by lies they told
[Bridge]
First not expansionist
Later imperialist
First not expansionist
Later imperialist
Hawaii, Philippines, Panama Canal
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, Boxer Rebellion
Justify it, by saying it's "God's will"
[Verse 2]
He freed the colonies from Spain
Then ordered them under U.S. control
He never wanted wars of conquest but public pressure would change his mind
Helped the country gain power
But assassinated in his second term
And his vice TR would soon do much more than was ever done before
[Chorus]
William McKinley striked gold
Didn't know bad things would unfold
William McKinley was bold (William McKinley was bold)
Influenced by lies they told (Influenced by lies they told)
(Da da da dada da da)