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Campaign '49:
Buster Major's Songbook
Buster Major sang his way to the Solvay mayor's office in 1949, initially treating the campaign as a lark because he thought he had little chance of winning.
During the campaign there were several everyone's-invited Democrat Party rallies at the Tyrol Club and other halls in the village. Buster preferred singing to making speeches and quickly discovered his audience felt the same way.
They also seemed to relate to the lyrics, which Buster had written to popular songs of the day. The first song, to Missouri Waltz, was the favorite. The lines about snow and plows had an impact because village elections take place in March and the campaign was waged during the worst winter weather.
Here's the Buster Major Songbook. |
Tune: Missouri Waltz
Fourteen years ago, the Solvay village board was won
By Republicans so let's review the work they've done
In winter the sidewalks are covered with snow
The plows block your driveway wherever they go,
The streets are full of holes, the sidewalks cracked away
Soon they'll disappear. . . almost any day,
So let's stop all static, and vote Democratic
On Election Day. |
Tune: Loverly Bunch of Coconuts
We've got a terrible bunch of village streets,
All of them are full of holes and cracks,
Big holes, small holes, some as deep as a well,
To avoid 'em you jump
And fall on your rump,
They'll get you sure as hell,
So why not do something about it,
When you are voting election day,
Throw the wreckers out,
Then we all can shout,
Singing roller bowler ball, a penny a pitch |
Tune: Mule Train
Mule train! Let's get going over hill and vale,
This is the year we must not fail,
Vote for Grube!
Vote for Ted!
Vote for Fridley!
Get along mule train!
The emblem of our party,
The Democrats are humming,
If we don't win tomorrow,
We might as well be slumming,
Get along, mule train!
Vote for Grube, etc.
Oh, the opposition's bragging,
For them they say it's sunny,
While we have all the good will,
They've got all the money,
Get along, mule train!
Vote for Grube, etc.
They say they'll fix the highways,
But we all have our fears,
They never made an effort
In the last fourteen years,
Get along, mule train!
Vote for Grube, etc.
Oh, listen all you voters,
To get back all your losses,
Save the Solvay village,
From the party bosses,
Get along, mule train!
Vote for Grube!
Vote for Ted!
Vote for Fridley!
Get along, mule train!
Hyahhh! |
Tune: East Side, West Side
East side, west side, everywhere you go
People are falling in holes in the streets,
It's costing the village dough,
And when you are out riding,
The holes make you bob up and down
And there isn't any good pavement
In the sidewalks of our town. |
| Because Solvay was predominately Italian, Buster also made it a point – throughout his political career – to include an Italian favorite, singing as much of it as he could, which took him about this far: |
Oi Marie, Oi Marie,
quanto suonno che perdo pe'te
Far m'addurmi
abbracciato nu poco cu te!
Oi Marie, Oi Marie. |
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Quick! Start up the donkeymobile!
Solvay Democrats knew how to attract attention in an era that loved silly stunts. Mayor Buster Major and village trustee John Nozynski got media coverage for riding a donkey-drawn wagon through Solvay streets during their 1951 re-election campaign. The photograph, by Louis Raczkowski, is from the Syracuse Herald-Journal, once Central New York's leading newspaper.
In the background, right-to-left, are Al Nowakowski, the campaign manager; Gerald Blair, chairman of Solvay's Democratic party and Judge Donald Salvetti, who didn't face re-election until 1953.
Republicans couldn't counter this stunt. The circus wasn't in town and the Burnet Park Zoo was a mess, so no elephants were available.
Nowakowski was an energetic, often creative fellow. His donkey stunt may seem corny, but thanks to his urging, the Solvay Democrats were the first Onondaga County politicians to use television to reach voters – not through commercials, but through 30-minute programs in which candidates introduced themselves and explained their goals and accomplishments.
My father, usually an engaging fellow at home in front of an audience, was intimidated by television, but eventually managed at least one comfortable, Buster Major smile on camera. He was much more at ease during the political rallies when he'd perform his songs.
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| – JACK MAJOR |
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