Tom T Hall
Miscellaneous
Monkey That Became President (1972)
I was there on the day the monkey came into this world
His face was round and reddish and his hair was slightly curled
He didn’t look too different from the other I had seen
Who’d have thought he was the answer to the nation’s dream
At first he didn’t seem to be intelligent at all
Each time he’d start to walk about he’d stumble and he’d fall
My first impression was to be a most mistaken thought
Lord a mighty watch this little hairy monkey row
Because I witnessed his departure from his mother’s womb
I felt inclined to check his progress every afternoon
One day the keeper of the zoo called in the live TV
Brinkley said I think you’ll be amazed at what you’ll see
The monkey walked and talked and waved his arms about his head
In the corner was the stack of books that he had read
An educated monkey said the papers across the land
It was more than weary sociologists would stand
Oh his fame was universal he was on the Carson show
People talk about him kindly everywhere’d go
His insight was amazing his philosophy was fair
He became a politician welcomed everywhere
His wit was not to be compared to any mind intact
He’d lace a braze with irony and blend it all with fact
Conservatives all applauded and the liberals were impressed
The bigots and integrationists were in his camp
Nobody dared to meet him in an open press debate
He was nominated by the folks from every state
Yes a monkey was the president though maybe not the first
And there was peace and harmony throughout the universe
The dream I had last night has been related as it came
As for interpretation well it’s really very plain
Would you rather have a monkey up in Washington DC
Or have those people making monkeys out of you and me

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