Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets
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Public-domain lyrics

High School Hymn

Tom Lehrer

A school prayer asks for freedom, privacy and eventual release from the institution itself.

Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets Text 11 Undated text
Public domainCampusSchoolSatireWryRestless
Complete public-domain lyrics

The formal language of a hymn collides with students' impatience and uncertainty. The sheet credits John B. Dykes's Eternal Father, Strong to Save as the tune and Lehrer as the writer of these words. Both six-line stanzas are complete. The dashed school-name slot in the last line is present in the source; no school name has been invented to fill it.

Verse 1

To whom it may concern we pray

That we'll get out of here some day.

O Thou, our awesome chaperone,

Who can't leave well enough alone,

Give us a break, we beg of Thee,

Or better yet, just let us be.

Verse 2

If Thou canst hear us, that's just swell.

Sometimes it's really hard to tell.

Perhaps we'll never see Thy face,

But we'll keep praying just in case,

Until the day we say goodbye,

Released at last from --------- High.

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.
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