Show Me the Way to Frederickstown, or, Lost in Maryland

Editor’s note: In the final debate between Maryland gubernatorial candidates Anthony Brown (D) and Larry Hogan (R), one contender flubbed the name of the state’s second-largest city. “When I travel around the state of Maryland, whether I’m in Oakland, whether I’m in Cumberland, whether I’m in Frostburg, Hagerstown, Frederickstown, families want the same thing,” the Democrat said. Brown—who is Maryland’s lieutenant governor—meant to end with “Frederick.” He did not notice or correct his error. 
TWS friend and Maryland resident Walter Olson, author most recently of Schools for Misrule: Legal Academia and an Overlawyered America and founder of the invaluable Overlawyered blog, shared with us a parody of the performance, which he says can be sung to “Nottamun Town,” made famous by Jean Ritchie. 

SHOW ME THE WAY TO FREDERICKSTOWN,
 or, LOST IN MARYLAND

Come all you good people and now gather round,


I’ll sing you the story of Anthony Brown;


Who wandered thro’ Mar’land, up hills and down,


Saying show me the way to fair Fred-er-ickstown. 

“For eight years in office I’ve just hung around,


Except for that website I ran to the ground,


But Emperor O’Malley has willed me his crown,


So show me the way to fair Frederickstown.”

“Oh Tony, oh Tony, please pencil this down,


There’s a city called Frederick, of famous renown,


The state’s second largest, with green hills all round,


But there is no city called Frederickstown.”

“Do not contradict me,” Tony said with a frown,


“These eight years I’ve traveled this whole state around,


Eastminster, St. Gary’s, and Salisboro town,


From Hagersville-Port to the Chesapeake Sound.”

We wanted a governor with feet on the ground,


We chose Larry Hogan, our taxes came down,


If out on the byways you should meet Mr. Brown,


He’s still out there looking for Frederickstown.

 

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