Kentucky Youth Assembly Song Analysis

During high school, I participated in the KYYMCA Youth and Government program. The paramount conference of this program is called the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA). This conference serves as a mock session of the Kentucky legislature in which students are able to propose and debate bills. Thus, students become well-versed in debate procedure and, most of all, familiar with the rap of the gavel following the ruling on a bill’s passage. Students will either hear the phrase, “It is the decision of the chair that this bill has been passed, and it has” (rap rap), or “It is the decision of the chair that this bill has failed, and it has” (rap rap). Thus, it is a commonality among students to call these gavel wraps “the sound of democracy.” For, in order to reach a ruling on a bill’s passage, it must first undergo extensive debate and a vote within the …show more content…
If one is simply listening to the song for the first time, they may not be able to fully discern one argument from the next because of the chaotic nature of the presentation. Yet, when presented with the lyrics, it becomes clear that although Hamilton and Seabury use many of the same words, they place their emphasis in different places and are therefore targeting different viewpoints. For example, while Seabury says, “Have not your interests at heart,” Hamilton says, “The have-nots are gonna win this.” Thus, Hamilton is using Seabury’s own words “have not” against him and changing the meaning entirely. Politicians do much the same when trying to pass legislation. Rarely will an entirely new idea come on the floor. More often than not, politicians will simply reach into the bottomless sack that is old failed proposals, pull one out, tweak a few words, and run with