like you used to do

After thinking about the Democrats' 1960 campaign song (Frank Sinatra's "High Hopes"), began imagining campaign songs for a more cynical era --
"Try, just a little bit harder"
"You Can't Always Get What You Want"
"Friends in Low Places"
"On The Road Again"
"Honky Tonk Women" -- all right, realize that one makes no sense, I just like it...I met a divorcee in New York Cit-ih -- I had to put up some kind of a fight -- The lady, then, she covered me with roses -- She blew my nose and then she blew my mind -- it's the honky tonk, honky tonk -- women -- Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues....

came across Hank Williams songs, and seemed like many of them had titles which could be applied -- or, re-applied -- for campaigns, or situations in politics...

"A House without love"  (about Congress)
"I Just Don't Like This Kind of Livin'"  (calling for positive change)
"Mind Your Own Business"  (to all critics)
"Calling You"
"Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door)"  [only becaue I already knocked on it, asking for your support...]

"Wealth Won't Save Your Soul" (tax bills and budget debates)
"Why Should We Try Anymore"  (relations with Congress)
"Nobody's Lonesome for Me" -- that's for after you get elected and people blame everything on you...
"Cold, Cold Heart"  (Congress again)
"I'm So Tired Of It All"  (every day since being elected...)
"You Caused it All by Telling Lies"  [for the cable networks' opinion-heads]

and then just for fun, as long as thinking of Hank Williams...
Well, Why don't you love me like you used to do
How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do.

Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin'
in a long, long while
We don't get nearer or further or closer than a country mile;

Why don't you spark me like you used to do
and say sweet nothin's like you used to coo
I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through
So, why don't you love me like you used to do.

Well why don't you be just like you used to be
How come you find so many faults with me
somebody's changed so let me give you a clue
why don't you love me like you used to do.

Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin'
in a long, long while
We don't get nearer or further or closer
than a country mile;

Why don't you say the things you used to say
what makes you treat me like a piece of clay
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do.

The verbal audacity of Shakespeare, and the soul of James Brown, all packed into one human from Alabama.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.

-30-