In February 1902, Judge James H. Mulligan (1844-1915) delivered his poem In Kentucky to a banquet of state legislators at Lexington’s Phoenix Hotel. The poem is most often quoted for its last line describing politics in Kentucky as “the damnedest.” It being election day, I thought it appropriate to share the full text. Oh, Be informed and VOTE!
The moonlight falls the softest
In Kentucky;
The summer’s days come oft’est
In Kentucky;
Friendship is the strongest,
Love’s fires glow the longest;
Yet, a wrong is always wrongest
In Kentucky.
The sunshine’s ever brighest
In Kentucky;
The breezes whisper lightest
In Kentucky;
Plain girls are the fewest,
Maidens’ eyes the bluest,
Their little hearts are truest
In Kentucky.
Life’s burdens bear the lightest
In Kentucky;
The home fires burn the brightest
In Kentucky;
While players are the keenest,
Cards come out the meanest,
The pocket empties cleanest
In Kentucky.
Orators are the grandest
In Kentucky;
Officials are the blandest
In Kentucky;
Boys are all the fliest,
Danger ever nighest,
Taxes are the highest,
In Kentucky.
The bluegrass waves the bluest
In Kentucky;
Yet bluebloods are the fewest
In Kentucky;
Moonshine is the clearest,
By no means the dearest,
And yet, it acts the queerest,
In Kentucky.
The dove’s notes are the saddest
In Kentucky;
The streams dance on the gladdest
In Kentucky;
Hip pockets are the thickest,
Pistol hands the slickest,
The cylinder turns quickest
In Kentucky.
Song birds are the sweetest
In Kentucky;
The thoroughbreds the quickest
In Kentucky;
Mountains tower proudest,
Thunder peals the loudest,
The landscape is the grandest – and
Politics – the damnedest
In Kentucky.