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Folky troubadour Jonathan Coulton has recorded “Washy Ad Jeffy,” a mnemonic device/folk song that helps you remember the order of all the US presidents. By nicknaming the presidents with differing numbers of syllables (like “Jeffy” for Jefferson or “Ad” for Adams), the number of syllables tells you how many terms (or partial terms) that president served. Coulton describes the song’s history:
My father learned it from Mrs. Govan, his 8th grade history teacher at Memorial Junior High School in Ohio. He believes she made it up, but he’s not entirely sure. At the time he learned it, and of course when he taught it to me, it only went up to Eisenhower. I have added to it over the years, so really it’s a collaboration between Mrs. Govan (maybe?) and me.
Enjoy:
You can also download it for free, buy it (Coulton is all about choices, people!), or learn to play it on guitar. And for help in your memorization, here are the lyrics:
Washy Ad Jeffy
Maddy Monroe
Ad Jackson Van Hair
Ty Po Tay Phil Pear
Bu Lincoln John Grant2
Hayes Garther and Cleve
Hair Cleve and McKin
Roosevelt Taft
Wilson Hard Coolidge
Hoov Franklin Roosevelt Truman Ikey
Ken Johnson Nixon Ford Cart Reagan Bush
Clinton DubyaAnd maybe you someday
And if you do they’ll say
What a fine president you madeWashy Ad Jeffy
Maddy Monroe
Ad Jackson Van Hair
Ty Po Tay Phil Pear
Bu Lincoln John Grant2
Hayes Garther and Cleve
Hair Cleve and McKin
Roosevelt Taft
Wilson Hard Coolidge
Hoov Franklin Roosevelt Truman Ikey
Ken Johnson Nixon Ford Cart Reagan Bush
Clinton Dubya…
See also: Coulton’s podcast from the moon and his greatest hits.
Comments (8)
Comment
My friend knows the Animaniacs song.
I would also say that probably some people may be so behind on American history that they don’t know what the abbreviations are supposed to stand for… :)
posted by Jenny on 6-17-2008 at 1:29 pm
YAY! Jonathan Coulton is AWESOME… not just because I’m totally listening to him on my iPod right now. Nope.
posted by Mary Sue on 6-17-2008 at 1:42 pm
There was an unfortunately named teacher (Ms. Beaver) when I was in kindergarten who attempted to teach us very complicated songs about spelling colors like chartruse. I do remember her catchy little ditty which listed all of the presidents in order with fondness. Unfortunately, she used the full names of the president, and in some cases, the middle name to make it fit the melody. My kindergarten brain managed to memorize the whole thing, but twenty years later it all becomes a blur after James Monroe until Taft.
posted by o-line on 6-17-2008 at 3:16 pm
This is hilarious but good. I wish i knew it for the prez test in 2nd grade!
posted by STGFAN on 6-17-2008 at 3:30 pm
I can still sing the helping verbs in less than 10 seconds thanks to my fourth grade teacher. Let’s also not forget the best little ditty ever, Fifty Nifty United States. Fantastic.
posted by Megan on 6-17-2008 at 6:13 pm
Animaniac songs beat all the others.
posted by Zach on 6-17-2008 at 9:14 pm
Again I say, “Damn you, Franklin Pierce!” because he’s reduced to “pear”! How’s that for confused mnemonics?
reCaptcha - on ORPHEUM
heh
posted by Johnny Cat on 6-17-2008 at 11:20 pm
In my eyes, JoCo can do no wrong. This song is just further proof. Thanks!
In related news, my high school history teacher, who is one of the coolest people ever, performed for us “Kruschev the Bald-Headed Russian” as he learned it in school (to the tune of “Rudolph..”) as well as a very special U.N. Song and Dance.
My 8th grade social studies teacher used the song “Kokomo” to teach us the names of the Caribbean islands, which is actually pretty clever if you think about it.
posted by Celeste M. on 6-19-2008 at 1:14 am