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Secondary sourceArtifact1840

Tip and Ty campaign song

Alexander Coffman Ross · 1840

A campaign song from 1840 promoting Harrison and John Tyler, with text by Alexander Coffman Ross, set to the traditional tune Little Pigs. This copy is a modern recording of the first verse.

This 1840 campaign song promotes Harrison and Tyler, showing how his campaign was publicized through music.

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Alexander Coffman Ross, Tip and Ty campaign song, 1840. Recording from Wikimedia Commons, 2007.

About this source

What it is

This is a recording of "Tip and Ty," a campaign song from 1840 for Harrison and Tyler. The text was written by Alexander Coffman Ross and sung to the traditional tune "Little Pigs." The recording on Wikimedia Commons contains only the first verse and was made on 2 March 2007, long after the campaign.

Students should remember that they are hearing a modern performance of an 1840 song, not a recording made in 1840. The words are the primary source; the voices and sound are modern.

Why it matters

Campaign songs were a popular way to spread a candidate's name in 1840. The nickname "Tip" refers to Harrison, and the song joins him with Tyler on the same ticket. Music let voters learn slogans and repeat them at rallies and at home.

Look closer

  • What does the song want listeners to think about Harrison and Tyler?
  • Why might a campaign choose a familiar tune for its message?
  • How does hearing a modern recording change the way you understand an 1840 text?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Henry Harrison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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