Martin Van Buren (A Life) Lyrics

In 1782, in Kinderhook, New York State

Martin Van Buren was born December 5th, around 8:00

His schooling was in Dutch but he learned to speak English, too

Then studied law until in 1803, he was through

He practiced law in Kinderhook, in '07, he wed

his childhood sweetheart, Hannah, soon, a family, they'd head

Five boys would join the family, the first, Abraham, then

John, Martin Junior, Winfield Scott, last, Smith Thompson Buren

In New York, he entered politics, first, senator of the state

And in '15, Attorney General, and served as both, first rate

Sadly, in '19, TB took Martin's wife away

In '21, he joined the Senate, seven years he'd stay

Number eight, Martin Van Buren, nicknamed Little Van

A gifted politician, shrewd in pressing through his plans

For a short time, he was governor, then Secretary of State

Next, Minister to the UK, last, Jackson's running mate

In '36, for president, Martin ran an won

But soon, a great depression and panic had begun

Martin was blamed because he could not put out the fire

So, he only lasted one term, Harrison, the new hire

He ran for president again in '44 and '48

But he lost, so he returned from DC to his home state

Martin retired, then his autobiography he'd start

In '62, July 24th, he died from a bad heart

A better political party system's Martin's legacy

A balanced budget, wars avoided, through diplomacy