Released in 1999, the introductory rap song “My Name Is” by the Detroit emcee Eminem was a perfect way to step into the scene. Wait, who is this guy? Eminem anticipated that question and gave audiences the answer right away.
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Hi, my name is, Slim Shady. And then the lyricist continued to tell you all about himself, including the fact that he is working with famed rap producer Dr. Dre. Instant credibility.
Given the platinum-selling song’s use as an important tool, we here at American Songwriter wondered how we might be able to use it for other people in history. What if we took the format and applied it to historical figures, like, the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
We asked our ol’ friends at ChatGPT to spit out a tune, check the results below.
“The Great Emancipator”
(Verse 1)
Hi kids, do you like history?
Wanna hear a tale of a man so legendary?
His name is Lincoln, the sixteenth president,
He fought for freedom and equality, it’s evident.
Born in Kentucky, raised in Illinois,
Honest Abe was his nickname, a man of poise.
He led the Union, kept the country united,
Emancipation Proclamation, the law he ignited.
(Chorus)
Hi, my name is, what? Abraham Lincoln!
I fought for justice, let me tell you somethin’
I’m the Great Emancipator, a true liberator,
Through trials and tribulations, I became a savior.
(Verse 2)
Lanky and tall, with a top hat on my head,
I stood up for what’s right, no matter what they said.
From humble beginnings to the White House I ascended,
With each step, a legacy, that will never be upended.
Gettysburg Address, those immortal words,
“Government of the people, by the people,” were heard.
Civil War raged on, a nation deeply divided,
But I believed in a future where all could be united.
(Chorus)
Hi, my name is, what? Abraham Lincoln!
I fought for justice, let me tell you somethin’
I’m the Great Emancipator, a true liberator,
Through trials and tribulations, I became a savior.
(Verse 3)
But on that fateful night, the theater’s stage was set,
John Wilkes Booth’s bullet, a moment we’ll never forget.
A nation mourned, the loss of an extraordinary man,
But my principles and ideals forever stand.
From rail splitter to martyr, my story lives on,
In the hearts and minds of those who sing this song.
I fought for freedom, equality, and human rights,
A beacon of hope, shining through the darkest nights.
(Chorus)
Hi, my name is, what? Abraham Lincoln!
I fought for justice, let me tell you somethin’
I’m the Great Emancipator, a true liberator,
Through trials and tribulations, I became a savior.
(Bridge)
So raise your voice, let freedom ring,
Stand up for justice, let our spirits sing.
In the footsteps of Lincoln, we’ll march on ahead,
Remembering his courage, the path he tread.
(Chorus)
Hi, my name is, what? Abraham Lincoln!
I fought for justice, let me tell you somethin’
I’m the Great Emancipator, a true liberator,
Through trials and tribulations, I became a savior.
(Outro)
So let the world remember the name Lincoln,
A man of honor, integrity, never sinkin’.
His spirit lives on, a symbol of inspiration,
Abraham Lincoln, forever our nation’s salvation.
Final Thoughts
While perhaps (definitely) not as catchy as the original, this does go to show you the value of taking a song like “My Name Is” and applying it to historical figures as teaching lessons. It’s similar to what Lin-Manuel Miranda did with Hamilton. Rap is a mode of communicating information as it is a mode of entertainment. That’s why it works so well here, too.
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for MTV/Paramount Global
