Election Song : The Foremen-"What Did You Do On Election Day?"

This jaunty folk song parodies how different Americans act on this important day, particularly along party lines that never seem to change. Showing how frustrated those who vote are with those who do not, the song, prime Foremen tradition, makes fun of various sides of the political spectrum. Even though the song is always pertinent because voter turnout tends to be low, this year many of the lyrics feel particularly relevant, including "I kicked the pamphlets off the porch" and "felt distinctly disenfranchised." 

Perhaps these are always perennial concerns, yet most of the characters that are asked what they did on election day tend to have done very little, so when one says that they voted, it seems surprising. That he is a "distant cousin" is telling as those closest to the speaker are too busy thinking briefly about politics before doing something odd like tossing out their Bee Gee records. These actions demonstrate the disregard that many have for voting. Of course, the song plays on perennial fears  concerning voter fraud, even as people avoid the polls: "I voted 'Yes' on A-B-C / No on W-X-Y-Z / Tore my stub, drove home and then / Back to the polls and voted again . . . once for everyone who stayed away."