The Dodger
(1950)- Music by Aaron Copland
- Text by Traditional
A campaign song linked specifically with the 1884 election of Grover Cleveland, “The Dodger” satirizes several professions, but Copland retained only three in his version: the political candidate, the preacher, and the lover.
--Stephanie Poxon, Ph.D.
The Dodger
Traditional
Yes the candidate's a dodger,
Yes a well-known dodger.
Yes the candidate's a dodger,
Yes and I'm a dodger too.
He'll meet you and treat you,
And ask you for your vote.
But look out boys,
He's a-dodgin' for your note.
Yes we're all dodgin'
A-dodgin', dodgin', dodgin'.
Yes we're all dodgin'
Out away through the world.
Yes the preacher he's a dodger,
Yes a well-known dodger.
Yes the preacher he's a dodger,
Yes and I'm a dodger too.
He'll preach you a gospel,
And tell you of your crimes.
But look out boys,
He's a-dodgin' for your dimes.
Yes we're all dodgin' . . . etc.
Yes the lover he's a dodger,
Yes a well-known dodger.
Yes the lover he's a dodger,
Yes and I'm a dodger too.
He'll hug you and kiss you,
And call you his bride,
But look out girls,
He's a-tellin' you a lie.
Yes we're all dodgin' . . . etc.
