Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets
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Public-domain lyrics

No Rice (It's Gotta Just Happen)

Tom Lehrer

A reluctant wedding planner rejects the ceremony and leaves room for something spontaneous.

Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets Text 22 Undated text
Public domainRomanceMarriageIndependenceWrySpontaneous
Complete public-domain lyrics

Invitations, matching dishes and formal declarations give way to the possibility of an unplanned decision. The source identifies Lehrer's words and music as an interpolation for the 1973 UCSC student production of Park. It separately credits the original musical to Paul Cherry and Lance Mulcahy; those credits are context, not authorship of this lyric. All thirty-five main lines, including the brief spoken invitation, are retained.

Verse 1

No rice, no flowers,

Friends I can’t abide’ll

Give me no bridal

Showers.

No invitations

To our relations,

I wanna catch ‘em nappin’ --

Oh no --- It’s gotta just happen.

Verse 2

No fake good wishes,

No in-laws dispatching

Hundreds of matching

Dishes.

No ‘lectric toasters,

No silver coasters,

In elegant fancy wrappin’ --

Oh no --- It’s gotta just happen.

Verse 3

And when the time is right –

(If ever)

We’ll turn to each other some night --

(Maybe never)

No scenes dramatic,

No operatic

Duets,

Just “Hey,

Whaddaya say?

[spoken] Let’s!”

Verse 4

So as I’ve often stated,

If I’m gonna wed, it

Won’t be premedit - ated.

I’m not sure it’s going to happen,

I’m not so sure I want it to happen,

But if it happens,

It’s gotta just happen,

It’s gotta just happen,

That’s how it’s gotta happen to me.

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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