The Popular Song
A young man returns to his hometown after a long absence and becomes involved with a local girl who is being courted by another man. The story explores themes of love, loyalty, and small-town life.
By Joseph C. Lincoln · First published 1906 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Lyric Poetry · 580 words
First lines
I never was naturally vicious; My spirit was lamb-like and mild; I never was bad or malicious; I loved with the trust of a child. But hate now my bosom is burning, And all through my being I long To get one solid thump on the head of the chump Who wrote the new popular song.
The office-boy hums it, The book-keeper drums it, It's whistled by all on the street; The hand-organ grinds it, The music-box winds it, It's sung by the "cop" on the beat. The newsboy, he spouts it, The bootblack, he shouts it, The washwoman sings it all wrong; And I laugh, and I weep, And I wake, and I sleep, To the tune of that popular song.
What this Textopian page supports
The Popular Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Joseph C. Lincoln, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Joseph C. Lincoln
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Lyric Poetry, Social Commentary, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 580 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Popular Song by Joseph C. Lincoln
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Popular Song?
- How does this poem by Joseph C. Lincoln fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Humor — The poem employs comedic elements to express frustration with a widely popular song, using exaggerated scenarios and playful language.
- Satire — It critiques societal trends and the pervasive nature of popular culture, highlighting the absurdity of the obsession with a trivial song.
- Lyric Poetry — The work features a musical quality and emotional expression typical of lyric poetry, focusing on personal feelings and experiences.
- Social Commentary — It reflects on the impact of popular culture on individual lives and societal norms, providing insight into the collective experience.
Tags
American Literature · Classic Novel · Coming-of-Age Story · Fiction · Humor · Literary Fiction · Novel · Satire · Social Commentary · Small-Town Life · Young Adult · Realism