A song by Tom Lehrer. It was first performed in 1964, when it seemed that WWIII would be a quick nuclear exchange with the Communist Bloc. Nowadays we know that it's going to be a protracted mess of cruise missile, biological and chemical strikes with persons unknown in the Middle East, but this song is still quite diverting. As per usual with Lehrer, the joy is in the tune, not the words. But here they are anyway:
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
© Tom Lehrer- lyrics appear with his written permission. First appeared on That Was the Year That Was (1965). CST Approved.
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