Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets
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Public-domain lyrics

The SAC Song

Tom Lehrer

Inspections, alerts and an interrupting red telephone shape an aircrew's wry account of service life.

Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets Text 33 Undated text
Public domainMilitary lifeFilmSatireWryRestless
Complete public-domain lyrics

The author sheet identifies this version as sung by Rod Taylor in A Gathering of Eagles (1963). Its four stanzas contrast official pride with the interruptions and frustrations of military duty. The second page is explicitly headed extra lyrics - not used, and is not merged into the movie-version text. The historical movie credit does not establish a release date or running time for this editorial songbook entry.

Verse 1

Here at SAC we're filled with pride,

There's just one thing we can't decide:

Which we'd rather get clobbered by --

An enemy attack or an O. R. I.

Verse 2

Our Wing Commander's got a racket,

Though sometimes it's hard to hack it.

Whenever he gets his wife alone --

Ding-a-ling-a-ling goes the little red phone.

Verse 3

We love the seven-day alert,

For a week we will not see a skirt.

We know it's part of SAC's main goal --

To test our positive control.

Verse 4

Absence makes the heart grow fonder,

Whatever became of the wild blue yonder?

How we wish the good old days were back -

In SAC!

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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