🇺🇸 ROLL THE OLD REPUBLIC ALONG
A Sea Shanty for Democracy
(Traditional tune: “Roll the Old Chariot”)
Here’s the original, in case you don’t know it:
Verse 1
Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one —
Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one —
Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Chorus
We’ll roll the old Republic along,
We’ll roll the old Republic along,
We’ll roll the old Republic along,
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 2
Well, another billionaire won’t do us any good —
Well, another billionaire won’t do us any good —
Well, another billionaire won’t do us any good —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 3
Oh, we’d be alright if each voice could have its say —
Oh, we’d be alright if each voice could have its say —
Oh, we’d be alright if each voice could have its say —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 4
Well, more soldiers in the streets won’t do us any good —
Well, more soldiers in the streets won’t do us any good —
Well, more soldiers in the streets won’t do us any good —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 5
Oh, we’d be alright if the cops did what they should —
Oh, we’d be alright if the cops did what they should —
Oh, we’d be alright if the cops did what they should —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 6
Oh, we’d be alright if our leaders had a spine —
Oh, we’d be alright if our leaders had a spine —
Oh, we’d be alright if our leaders had a spine —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 7
Oh, we’d be alright if the news could tell it straight —
Oh, we’d be alright if the news could tell it straight —
Oh, we’d be alright if the news could tell it straight —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 8
Oh, we’d be alright if the strong stood with the weak —
Oh, we’d be alright if the strong stood with the weak —
Oh, we’d be alright if the strong stood with the weak —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Verse 9
Well, a crown upon a thief won’t do us any good —
Well, a crown upon a thief won’t do us any good —
Well, a crown upon a thief won’t do us any good —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
Final Chorus (repeat 2–3×)
We’ll roll the old Republic along,
We’ll roll the old Republic along,
We’ll roll the old Republic along —
And we won’t be ruled by kings!
HT: Josiah Hawthorne on Bluesky for the idea.