Lincoln’s Second Inaugural

11/03/15 • -1 min

Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address was dedicated to preventing a Civil War. Four years later as that war dwindled, Lincoln spoke not of triumph, but of the nation’s division. He wondered aloud if the staggering loss of American lives were a part of a divine retribution for the ills of slavery.

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Rousing the Irish

You’re listening to a Victor recording of legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne...

...and you’re on the Sound Beat.

This isn’t the famous “win one for the Gipper” speech, rather a re-creation of a pep talk Rockne would occasionally give his teams. He’d use whatever means necessary to rouse the Irish. Including, well, bending the truth a bit. Here’s former player Sleepy Jim Crowley on one such speech, during which the coach read a wire, (from “his son” who was “critically ill” in the hospital), that read “I want Daddy’s team to win”.

We won the 1922 Georgia Tech game for Billy....There was a big crowd to meet us at the station, and running around in front of everyone was ‘sick’ little Billy Rockne, looking healthy enough for a Pet Milk ad.

So, if you’ve never seen a Pet Milk ad...enjoy.

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Cotton-Eyed Joe

You’re listening to Adolph Hofner and his San Antonians and you’re on the Sound Beat.

Sports fans who recognize this tune might be cringing...a 1994 version by Swedish Band Rednex...yes, that’s Rednex with an x, has become a modern-day arena anthem. To some it’s probably a real toe-tapper, and to others it’s as welcome to the ears as the vuvuzuela....The Texas Rangers, though, have used the Al Dean and the All Stars version as their seventh-inning-stretch for over 40 years. The original song propagated through both the United States and Canadian folk traditions, predating the American Civil War.

Hofner and his San Antonians made this, the most popular recording of the tune in 1941. Hofner was a pioneer of Western swing, a blend of jazz, polka, folk and blues that would become, in effect, country music..

For more on the man click right here.

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/webersweb/2565590420/