Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets
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Public-domain lyrics

Political Action Song

Tom Lehrer

An organization congratulates itself on its meetings, principles and supposedly enormous influence.

Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets Text 24 Undated text
Public domainPoliticsInstitutionsSatireWrySelf-important
Complete public-domain lyrics

The author describes this as a retitled revision of The Song of the NSA Warriors, where NSA meant National Student Association. The revised song was used in a March 1956 Hexagon Club benefit show in Washington, D.C. Its self-important collective narrator supplies the joke. All three nine-line stanzas are retained; the historical setting is not a claim about a current political organization.

Verse 1

Now when it comes to anything political,

We're int'rested, we're militant, we're critical.

Though it's not quite evident

Who it is we represent,

We take stands and issue statements by the score.

Ev'ry candidate, we know,

Though he won't admit it's so,

Would give anything to be the one we're for, we're for,

Would give anything to be the one we're for.

Verse 2

And when we find an issue, we just dote on it.

We hold meetings, we discuss it, and we vote on it.

We don't let it get our goat.

We just put it to a vote,

And in this way any problem can be solved.

What we vote on, we confess,

Doesn't matter, more or less.

What's important is the principle involved, involved,

What's important is the principle involved.

Verse 3

We know that there's a bit of true adult in us,

That Congress makes no move without consultin' us.

We are fighting for the truth

With the energy of youth

And the singleness of purpose that we share.

We look down upon the crowds

With our heads up in the clouds

And our feet planted firmly in midair, mid air,

And our feet planted firmly in midair.

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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