National Brotherhood Week

[Atman]

ARTIST: Tom Lehrer
TITLE: National Brotherhood Week


Oh, the white folks hate the black folks
And the black folks hate the white folks
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule

But during National Brotherhood Week
National Brotherhood Week
Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark
Are dancing cheek to cheek
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise
As long as you don't let 'em in your school

Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks
And the rich folks hate the poor folks
All of my folks hate all of your folks
It's American as apple pie

But during National Brotherhood Week
National Brotherhood Week
New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans
'Cause it's very chic
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand
You can tolerate him if you try

Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics
And the Catholics hate the Protestants
And the Hindus hate the Moslems
And everybody hates the Jews

But during National Brotherhood Week
National Brotherhood Week
It's National Everyone-Smile-At-
One-Another-hood Week
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you
It's only for a week, so have no fear
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!

[Tesha]

1. I'll see your "NBW" and raise you a "Vatican Rag"! (NT)

[Atman]

3. And I raise you a "Who's Next?"

First we got the bomb, and that was good,
'Cause we love peace and motherhood.
Then Russia got the bomb, but that's okay,
'Cause the balance of power's maintained that way.
Who's next?

France got the bomb, but don't you grieve,
'Cause they're on our side (I believe).
China got the bomb, but have no fears,
They can't wipe us out for at least five years.
Who's next?

Then Indonesia claimed that they
Were gonna get one any day.
South Africa wants two, that's right:
One for the black and one for the white.
Who's next?

Egypt's gonna get one too,
Just to use on you know who.
So Israel's getting tense.
Wants one in self defense.
"The Lord's our shepherd," says the psalm,
But just in case, we better get a bomb.
Who's next?

Luxembourg is next to go,
And (who knows?) maybe Monaco.
We'll try to stay serene and calm
When Alabama gets the bomb.
Who's next?
Who's next?
Who's next?
Who's next?

[DancingBear]

7. "First you get down on your knees,

fiddle with your rosaries"

I love that song. :)

[marmar]

2. Ouch! Painful but true...

Tolerance and acceptance shouldn't need holidays.

[gauguin57]

4. Wow ... I was just playing that song the other day.

Love that Tom Lehrer!

"Vatican Rag" and "So Long, Mom (song for World War III)" are my personal favorites.

Hmmmm ... maybe So Long, Mom isn't so FUNNY these days!

So long, Mom,
I'm off to drop the bomb,
So don't wait up for me.
But while you swelter
Down there in your shelter,
You can see me
On your TV.

While we're attacking frontally,
Watch Brinkally and Huntally,
Describing contrapuntally
The cities we have lost.
No need for you to miss a minute
Of the agonizing holocaust. (Yeah!)

Little Johnny Jones he was a U.S. pilot,
And no shrinking vi'let was he.
He was mighty proud when World War Three was declared,
He wasn't scared,
No siree!

And this is what he said on
His way to Armageddon:

So long, Mom,
I'm off to drop the bomb,
So don't wait up for me.
But though I may roam,
I'll come back to my home,
Although it may be
A pile of debris.

Remember, Mommy,
I'm off to get a commie,
So send me a salami,
And try to smile somehow.
I'll look for you when the war is over,
An hour and a half from now!

[Atman]

5. My parents were closet hippies. I grew up on this stuff!

I remember them playing National Brotherhood Week and telling me to not to sing it around my friends at school! I couldn't understand why not...I thougth it was hysterical then, and just as great now. What's scary is how much of Lehrer's stuff has stood the test of time!

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Funny, I was thinking about a Tom Lehrer song re the immigrant issue:

from "George Murphy"

"...should Americans pick crops?
George says no,
'Cause no one but a Mexican would stoop so low,
and after all, even in Egypt, the Pharaohs
had to import (da-da-da da) Hebrew braceros..."


The rest of the song is here:
http://www.gomi-no-sensei.com/mirrors/lehrer/lehrer/gmurphy.htm

:evilgrin: