James Madison (A Life) Lyrics

On a Virginia tobacco plantation in '51

March 16th, a Tuesday, was born James Madison

He attended College of New Jersey, that's Princeton today

And in two years, James graduated with a B.A.

He studied law but never finished up with the bar

Then, illness kept him out of fighting in the War

The US Constitution, James took on the task

Wrote and defended it till in '88, it was passed

In '91, after two years of working out the flaws

Jame's Bill of Rights was ratified and became law

In '94, he wed Dolley, a widow with a son

James adopted Payne, but they never had another one

James was Secretary of State when Jefferson was president

An embargo he advised created public resentment

James became the 4th president in 1809

A tenuous peace with Britain that they would undermine

In 1812, the war began, with battles on sea and land

Washington burned, but in '15, an end came and James looked grand

James retired in '17 and returned to Montpelier

But he was still active, U of VA rector, he did chair

Though doctors wanted to prolonged his life till July 4th with a pill

June 28th, 1836, his weak heart became still

James Madison's face was on the 5,000 dollar bill

He was the father of the Constitution through his steadfast will