"James K. Polk" - They Might Be Giants

[kowie]

ya grand lake theater!

[Josh1928374]

My teacher for texas history made a music video for this and showed us in class :)

[kittyventing]

YOu could be related by cousins and/or siblings.

And this would get me a C (if any) on my APUSH test if I wrote this.

[LuvBuh]

It's not possible to be related to Polk...him and his wife Sarah Childress never had any children >_>...

[whowantsabighug]

not unless he had brothers or sisters or cousins

[kittyprydekissme]

Is that solo a saw?

[TheKarmaPolice113]

yep, played by julian koster!

[dgmaslow]

I mesmerized this song for my AP US final and wrote it word for word and in the middle put

awesome Wind Flute thing solo

and got an A

[obamamaniac42]

lol amn, I'm taking that class next year and I really need to do that

*realizes that the A is inveitable that now he has this song in his arnensal*

[MuffinsAPlenty]

While this song is helpful for APUS, I think you'll find the Animaniacs Song "The Presidents" much more helpful to memorize. Even though it doesn't help with accomplishments, it keeps the order straight, so it is very good.

[masterwizard555]

For a second I thought your vid descrip. said Thanks mr.condom

[street789]

im related to james k polk

[stpola87]

me 2.. but way out..

[street789]

so that means im related to u

[stpola87]

Hehe, yeah I guess it does..! my last name is Polk. What about yours?

[street789]

polk also

[Crunchybear1]

Me to, Through my Great-Grandmother. How ever I am very ashamed of this fact. The TRUE heroes of the "Manifest destiny" was the San Patricios.

[nystateofmind1992]

Nice combination of James K. Polk, TMBG, and Arrested Development. =)

[SuperMatlyn]

this song helped me ace my history test

[ate3333]

hes my great great great great uncle. swear to god

[avardcurt]

He's my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle!!!!!!!! His Grandfather was Ezekiel Polk and is buried in Bolivar, TN with the coolest Epitaph I've ever seen on his grave. If you are ever through Bolivar, visit the Polk Family Cemetery. A lot of my family is buried their including my Grandfather, Great Grandfather, and Great Great Grandfather!!!  Thanks for the song, it rocks.

[capriciouscow]

My US History Settlement to Civil War Professor at UC Berkeley just played this today in class. It was quite awesome.

[europa312]

I loved this- and EVEN MORE with the GOB references! One of my favorite songs ever.

[WiccanWitch61646]

OMG, my teacher showed us this vid in my history class last week!! O_O

[stevefrommi]

Second / third verses

[stevefrommi]

The second verse of this song got me an A on my essay test for American History class. WOO HOO!!!

Best band ever.

[thesixthsin]

DBHS A.P.U.S.H.: LOL. I can't believe you guys would look this up. Watkins is crazee.

[kamikazechipmunk]

FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!

James K Polk For PRESIDENT in 2012!

[tefisher1984]

Happy belated 213th birthday James K. Polk!

[iamtheyak]

I had to memorize this for high school US History class

[mundungus42]

Delightful video- I'm so happy you got a good grade on it!

[jsokol27]

thanks mr condom!

[arronjvance]

happy, tense, fear. Nice :)

[porkchops20]

pretty good dude.

[betajoovey]

Loved the Arrested Development...XD

[ryanincro]

Lol good interpretation of the video.

[brandechh]

Hey, this thing should be posted on TeacherTube... something that could be shown in school districts that block YouTube.

[Spader003]

yeah my US History teacher showed it to us

[masterwizard555]

brandechh if you wanna know how to get rid of the parent block message me back its easy I do it all of the time.

[brandechh]

Ah, there's always ways around things. My point is, I shouldn't HAVE to find ways around it. I should be able to use the tools available to teach.

[masterwizard555]

its not a way around its really simple too just go to the bottom left corner near the clock look at the earth that says internet next to it double click it then just change the parental settings to whatever you want

[brandechh]

Ah, that's different. These aren't parental controls, these are district blocks on all internet usuage (even wireless).

[geridg]

to all ya all haters: This song is not praising or condemning Polk. It's just having some fun educating people about a less known pres...that's all! Every president we've ever had in this country has caused lots of suffering, and at the same time helped others (the Dems are clearly the best for the nations health and strength in the last 60 yrs! Read your history...it's FACT). But some of our greatest presidents, were also monsters (Jackson, T. Roosevelt, L. Johnson). That's life kiddies! Deal.

[JustBigT]

james k polk led an unprovoked attack on Mexican territories and lied to congress plus the public about the reasons behind it. He was condemned by Lincoln himself.

[hope1313]

yah but comeon thats what maid him so great GO JKP!

[SouthernJediFilms]

JustBigT, change "james k polk" to "George W. Bush", "Mexican territories" to "Iraq" and "Lincoln himself" to "nearly the whole country" and you've got our present situation.

[JustBigT]

lol i like your thinking

[hope1313]

please the diffrence between james and bush is that james got stuff done and also i dont want to piss anyone off or anything but what would it be like if we hadent done somthing about iraq i'me saying we didnt go overbord what would kerry have done.. nothing and what kind of message does that send to the rest of the world

[Moongoddess2388]

um not quite. Bush is screwing up way more, and the wars had much different reasons behind going into them.

[trainguy4449]

JustBigT: Maybe he did do that, but look at the bright side. If he hadn't, we wouldn't have ditzy movie stars, smog, or Schwarzenegger. Or the Grand Canyon. So what if he did those things, I don't hear anyone complaining.

[sergeimosin9]

probably my favorite TMBG song. one correction, Martin Van Buren was a Freesoiler, not an abolitionist

[ZeekNuk3m]

I normally never post but I couldn't let this stupidity slip by. First of all the Abolitionists were not a political party, and The Free Soil party wasn't even started yet in the election of 1844. At the time Van Buren was a Democrat and he did indeed support abolition.

[brassknuckletrash]

saxophone perhaps.

[blueskyrunner83]

when i was in high school, my scolastic quiz team had an agreement that if we didn't know an answer to a president question, we answered "james k. polk". i don't know why we picked him, but he actually was the correct answer once in four years of competition.

[Burke888]

LOL! Wow, I wonder what the odds of that happening were. That would have been really funny to see.

[SPLEclipse]

When I read "a video i made for history class" and watched this, I thought you were the professor. Damn son, thats awesome!!

[TheKarmaPolice113]

thanks!

[SandersJ1711]

Arrested Development, US history, They Might Be Giants, and "English teachers everywhere rejoice" all in one video?

This is a dream for a geek like me. Love the vid. =]

[porygonlover322]

I did a project on him where I did a backboard, a report, and a costume. This song was playing in front of my backboard. XD

[YoshiLives]

Sounds like a French project where I played "Michelle" by the Beatles.

[carstenthegr8]

thank you

now i am ready for my US HISTORY TEST!!

[sunheart183pie]

I recently did a report on James K. Polk and I used this song :)

[tradercris]

This song has plenty for such a report. They didnt mention (if my sources are correct) that as president James Know Polk banned dancing from White House social functions, he thought such an activity a waste of time. Austere? Severe? Indeed!

[SilentCloudedSoul]

Everything I know about Polk, I learned from this song. Just kidding. :P

[ericandjesse3]

Asome vid

[ninjakindaguy]

holy crap

I could've used this song in high school history

lol

[MrDrQJr]

This is just a paragraph from one of his speaches they somehow made into a song, Lol

I love tmbg

[aliaswhiteroom]

Mr. Julian Koster-Singing Saw

[TheKarmaPolice113]

gotta love him. neutral milk hotel and TMBG - he's pretty much a music god.

[jcproductions23]

MR.FOX SOCIAL STUDIES!!!

(PEDIFILE)

[prjonc]

Loved the video! Great song and a good job putting the vid together. Thanks for the fun!

[shanaynay17]

i could jam to this anyday

[HeadFullOcandy]

Did you make it for Coach Condon's History Class? I have him this year and I think he showed this one to us, it is really good.

[TheKarmaPolice113]

I did! thank's for the compliment. tell him kevin said hello, if you think of it.

[HeadFullOcandy]

I will. My favorite parts are the ones with Gob from Arrested Development, that is my favorite show.

[TheKarmaPolice113]

why weren't there any people who liked Arrested Development when i went to tucker? i thought that would just be an inside joke that me and a couple of other people might get.

[HeadFullOcandy]

I don't know anyone who likes it at Tucker, but I've got all the seasons on DVD and I am hoping the rumor of the Arrested Movie is true. But those parts made me laugh

[CofCGuy]

If they had music videos in 1910, Sarah Conrad of Eagle Creek would make a video like this one.

[PoisonPeachPit]

I'm confused at the beginning. Does he say "the Democrats were slayed" or that they were "slaked?"

[TheKarmaPolice113]

it's "split." slayed is much more violent....

[mikk889]

Imagine, a president that doesn't kiss Mexico's ass!

[munchkin691]

i just want you to know that i am obsessed with this song and i think its because when the song says "dear" you put a picture of a deer!  its just too funny! i showed it to my friends and they all loved it too!

[TheKarmaPolice113]

thanks, munchkin!

[saintetta]

holy crap 36,773 views!! you're practically famous. Unless they were all you?

[inlinebpsk8er]

wat grade u get?

[TheKarmaPolice113]

I got a 100

[jacksoasis]

Bob Dylan praised the song while playing it on his President's Day episode of his radio show recently.

[TheKarmaPolice113]

cool! hey, if dylan likes it then you know it's good.

[codyah1993]

Not Really!

[codyah1993]

Not Really!

[fleebob434]

Go James K. Polk a.k.a my great-great-great-great-great uncle!!!!!!!

[mwal722]

for real?

[fleebob434]

yeah!

[patricknewman2]

hey man then we are related

[fleebob434]

how?

[fleebob434]

im a girl

[theholderofsong]

NO girls on the internets, get back in the kitchen.

Oh wait.

[scissorhandslove9]

We totally listened to this in my A.P. U.S. History class. XD

It's so freaking awesome.

[Falkon4860]

The tune is really close to Thunderbird, just slower and with a different chorus.

[BubblyMapleSyrup]

When my Social Studies teacher found out about this video she freaked out in a fit of happiness.

Nice images in your video

[morishespeaks]

Loved it, especially the first "Napoleon of the stump" with Napoleon wearing flannel.

I wish I'd though of using TMBG for reports in HS.

[accidental76]

My favorite TMBG song now has a great video! Thanks!

[billycargo]

Excellent. I walk by Mr. Polk's grave every day on my way to work and I'll be humming this damn song now. Good job, clever idea.

[Snapelover33]

hahaha

[dominoefffect]

haha, that was really funny. i like the deer! i have a test on this tomorrow, actually. i hope this helps.

[JamesEndsor]

Awesome! I loved the logger Napoleon on the stump! I agree with epimom, the credits were a great touch!

[kittyfrancois]

Informative & funny!  This made studying Polk a lot easier!

[epimom]

As a teacher, I give you extra kudos for having the decency to cite your image sources!

Well done! ;)

[suchducks]

I would have given you a 100, too.

[fullnarusader]

I heard this song in class, and then I found this. This is cool. Nice job. :D

[JohnB207]

Nice touch listing current literature and inventions. Too often history is presented in a narrow way that lacks the context of what else was going on at the time, which although not necessarily related, helps to place the events in the reader's mind.

Also, "saxophone" is spelled like that.

[allian159]

i love the high school english teachers part XD

[fredfreddy]

That was very funny.

[LowFreQjoefee]

Holy Crap!!! TMBG coupled with Arrested Development!!! I'm in heaven!!! You're my Hero!!!

[ThaDooze]

well done.

[taasra]

That strange instrument in the middle of the song is John playing a saw with a violin bow.

[Pepperchinis]

weeEEeooowOooweeOoo..?

[liambf]

not john, julian koster from neutral milk hotel.

[Zriggo]

Consider being school aged in Halifax County, NC in 1983: the begining of the state's EXTENDED DAY project, which asked 3 counties 2 volunteer 2 lengthen the school year by 20 days (from 180-200) and instructional day by 30 minutes. One of the other two counties 2 tackle the challenge: POLK (though named for American Revolution Col.William POLK, not the 11th president). I can't remeber the 3rd county volunteering, but by the third year (1985-86), only Halifax County was continuing the project

[funkyflyfresh007]

Nerd rock...as known as nerd core

[QuinnnniuQ]

Oh, I love TMBG fans.

[wiggipedia]

go 2:03!

[jig0ku]

Wicked.

[rosiepoopypants]

Polk is my favorite!

[liz1060]

This is so good! I love tmbg and this is my 1st favorite song (there are 3 others -- no -- 4 others -- no -- ) I really liked the info on literature written during Polks term. You deserved 100, A++.

[TheKarmaPolice113]

yeah, we had to read all of those books in english class. so it was sort of an inside joke with the kids in my class.

[liz1060]

I was in high school over 40 yrs ago and we had to read all those books, too. I guess some things will never change! Literature is something that connects not only the generations but the centuries and the milleniums, as well.

[izzywiz15]

Jet from Mr. Bill's is better!

[boxeresq]

@karma its what u call powerpoint... with a lil vid work. gud job all the same

[boxeresq]

this rocks

[kur0okami]

Hah, I really liked this! I'll send it to my teacher, see if he shows it sometime :3

Well, well done!

[TheKarmaPolice113]

thanks!

[oeppevnvpeb]

napoleon of the stump?

[TheKarmaPolice113]

that's what they called him! (apparently)

[trebor121290]

he was called napoleon of the stump due to the fact that he was an outstanding public speaker (and, in those days it was common for a politician to stand on a stump and give a speach) and also, was short. very short. Theres my input!

[danajohnhill]

Brilliant! I've loved this song for a long time, and you more than did it justice! I especially liked the picture of Gob with a saxophone rubber-banded to himself. Clever.

[TheKarmaPolice113]

haha, thanks! i'm not too sure that everyone got that joke...

[CompanyCar]

Also, I'll have you know that it suggests Candy Mountain and Deadliest Catch to me when I've finished watching.

[CompanyCar]

Hahahah kevin, you're basically a celebrity!

[TheKarmaPolice113]

yeah, basically...

[duecex2]

You did a good job. I lol'd.

[GeishaKittyKat]

Hahaha, Very nice!! *applauds*

[darkninja516]

Very Nice!

[shizzcrizz707]

congratulations

this video got played for OUR history class

i really liked the video, too.

polk is our teacher's favorite president, so i guess it was appropriate

[TrueSoreThumb]

I gotta admit, unprofessional, but quite smart and well-done. Good work :D

(What grade did youg et?)

[TheKarmaPolice113]

I got an A (100, i think).

[Skelevision]

I wouldn't be so sure except for the EXACT same font on "Tariffs." Yours is MUCH better, not only for originality, but also because it's the perfect use of slides...not too many, and using the effects on the pictures the way you did.

By the way, this version is the exact same that I have on my CD.

Other TMBG songs that need your work are "Mammal" and "Why Does The Sun Shine?"

[TheKarmaPolice113]

wait, what are you comparing the video to? (i think youtube screwed something up, and that's why i'm so confused)

[Skelevision]

Look for a video by pmormr on this. It ripped yours off.

[TheKarmaPolice113]

thanks for the compliments, everyone. if this is geek rock, well, then i guess i'm a geek.

[Skelevision]

Very nice work. Quite impressed. Always loved the song, and you did it justice.

[w1sh8]

This video was pretty awesome.

And can we please cut out the "Geek Rock" thing?

[gothicducks]

That's what it's classified as. And if you're turned off by the geek thing it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's very intelligent.

[w1sh8]

Last I checked, Billboard had made a new genre called "Thought Rock" to describe TMBG.

Besides, geeks are the only people that think geeks are cool. This isn't one of those things we can embrace to take its power away.

I dunno, someone should ask TMBG if they like being referred to as Geek Rock.

[gothicducks]

I'm studying this is social studies. This song is great! Geek Rock is great!

[CaptOrbit]

Brilliant!

[toughguy122345]

van buren wasn't an abolitionist. He was part of the Free Soil Party.

[rocket157]

The Free-Soil's platform was to keep slavery out of expansionism...so it's not like he was against abolitionism.

[saintetta]

yay

[videogenic]

Sweet Zombie Jesus! For the effort alone, you get an A++. I loved the Arrested Development clip, it made me almost spill my drink. I was thinking to myself, this is the kind of thing I wish my son would produce for his CP US History class.

You, Sir, get a gold star.

[TheKarmaPolice113]

yes! gold star!

thanks for the A++

[disposition27]

this is pretty awesome

[greeneking79]

Very very impressive. I have a friend that is a Jr. High history teacher and I am going to pass this link along. The Arrested Development clips were gravy, too.

Bravo!

[elfinfire76]

wunderbar!

[missewon]

fun! loved it! now run out and do more videos for TMBG songs :)

[ochagirl]

Who says learning can't be fun? XP

I love you . . . :-)

[lenskap]

Brilliant! The timing was perfect. The recording is different than the album version. Is this the demo?

[TheKarmaPolice113]

hmm...not too sure. i got it off of "dial a song".

[jerrycommahello]

what grade did you get for that?

[TheKarmaPolice113]

i got an A. i think my teacher really liked it.

[scottandrewhutchins]

Nice school project. A bit too literal for a general audience, but you deserved an A.

[bdbthinker]

very nice! 5*

[joeXmaspunk]

pretty cool. Good job.