(This is part of an ongoing series rating presidential campaign songs, in rough chronological order. You can find all the previous entries here.)

There is literally nothing left to say about Abraham Lincoln that hasn't already been said. That's why people keep arguing about whether he was secretly gay, or a depressive, or an abused husband, or a cross-dresser. They dabble in the unknown, because the facts are indisputable, and well-known: He was one of the best, if not the single best president in history. If you disagree with that, you are either a dick or you have taken part in one too many Civil War reenactments (or, probably, both).

"Lincoln and Liberty," isn't worthy of being Lincoln's campaign song. But then, I can't really think of a song that would be worthy of being Lincoln's campaign song. (The Hallelujah Chorus, maybe?) But as far as lyrics go, it really soaks itself in patriotism:

They'll find what by felling and mauling,
Our railmaker statesman can do;
For the people are everywhere calling
For Lincoln and Liberty too.

Then up with the banner so glorious,
The star-spangled red, white, and blue,
We'll fight till our banner's victorious,
For Lincoln and Liberty, too.

This is a fight song, a song that points to the distance and says "We'll get there one day, with this guy's help, and it'll be better when we all get there together." As far as tunes go, it's fun and lofty and inspiring. (It's to the tune of an old folk song titled "Rosin the Bow.") Here it is:

See? You want something like the good-guy version of the Imperial March*. But that's impossible. At the time, nobody knew Lincoln would be the best of us. He just worked out that way. His campaign songs didn't have a chance to match up to the glory of the man, because a lot of Lincoln's power came in retrospect. The job he had to do was so messy and divisive and enormous. You can't capture that in a song without years of reflection.

Lyrics: 9
Enthusiasm: 7.5
Infectiousness: 8
Total Score: 8.17

* Come to think of it, why isn't there a good-guy version of the Imperial March? Is it just easier to do foreboding than hopeful? The Superman theme comes close, but it doesn't quite get there in terms of majesty.