While trying to come up with an idea for my next "Promises broken, promises restored" song, I looked over my shelves of biographies. The title _Bully Boy_ grabbed me.
This might be considered a riddle song, since I don't name its subject, but it's obviously Theodore Roosevelt. (Since the initial upload, I've changed "charming Bully" to "charming Teddy." It sounds better and makes the song clearer.) The weirdest thing that I found in my research was that TR waged a campaign against Coca-Cola, not because it used coca extract (the sources I checked differ on whether it actually contained cocaine at that time), but because it had *caffeine*! What makes that especially weird is that Roosevelt was a copious coffee drinker.
The tune is the traditional children's song, "Billy Boy." Lyrics and performance copyright 2022 Gary McGath.
Oh, where have you gone, Bully Boy, Bully Boy?
Far off from our shores, charming Teddy?
"I have gone to grab Hawaii, and the natives can't deny me.
With my big stick I'm loaded with ambition."
What happened with Spain, Bully Boy, Bully Boy?
Why did you want war, charming Teddy?
"San Juan gave some lovely scenes, and we got the Philippines.
With my big stick I'm loaded with ambition."
Why is Coca-Cola bad, Bully Boy, Bully Boy?
Is it cocaine you despise, charming Teddy?
"Coca-Cola has caffeine, quite unlike the coffee bean.
With my big stick I'm loaded with ambition."
Why do you want income tax, Bully Boy, Bully Boy?
Why do you want what we earn, charming Teddy?
"I think income tax is great for a mighty central State.
With my big stick I'm loaded with ambition."
When you wanted a Canal, Bully Boy, Bully Boy,
Why did you send warships there, charming Teddy?
"So Colombia could see there was reason to agree.
With my big stick I'm loaded with ambition."
What should we learn from you, Bully Boy, Bully Boy,
Why are you so admired, charming Teddy?
"When you're tough and have the looks, you get praise in hist'ry books.
With my big stick I'm loaded with ambition."
@davefrank83 Feb 2022
Nice catchy melody line. Cool song. "With my big stick I'm loaded with ambition" is my new saying now.