That Was the Year That Was
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Public-domain lyrics

George Murphy

Tom Lehrer

Hollywood performance and political performance become almost indistinguishable.

That Was the Year That Was Track 3 1965
Public domainSatirePoliticsShow businessWryTheatrical
Complete public-domain lyrics

Singing, dancing, and screen credits frame an ironic portrait of a senator. The song's invented dialogue and ethnic stereotypes belong to its satirical characterization, not to factual quotation or endorsement. This is the complete sheet labeled recorded version from That Was the Year That Was. The separate campaign song and addenda are different texts and are not appended.

Verse 1

Hollywood's often tried to mix

Show business with politics,

From Helen Gahagan

To Ronald Reagan.

But Mister Murphy is the star

Who's done the best by far.

Verse 2

Oh, gee, it's great,

At last we've got a senator who can really sing and dance.

We can't expect America to win against its foes

With no one in the Senate who can really tap his toes.

The movies that you've seen

On your television screen

Show his legislative talents at a glance:

Verse 3

Should American's 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 Hebrew braceros.

Verse 4

Just think of all the musicals we have in store.

Imagine Broadway Melody of 1984!

Yes, now that he's a senator, he's really got the chance

To give the public

A song and dance.

Credits

Written by Tom Lehrer

Words by Tom Lehrer, released into the public domain by the author. This is the author-published text edition, not a transcription of a particular performance.

Source & text edition

Author-published lyric sheet · original English words

Tom Lehrer's November 26, 2022 declaration relinquishes copyright in lyrics he wrote. It does not grant rights to third-party music, photographs or album artwork. This edition uses only his words.

Read the author’s lyric sheet (PDF)

View copyright evidence · Author’s public-domain declaration

Retrieved 2026-09-08. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.

Source edition: That Was the Year That Was · Live · 1965 · US

Release data: MusicBrainz · CC0-1.0 · Retrieved 2026-09-07.

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