Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets
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Public-domain lyrics

Why Not Fight?

Tom Lehrer

A mock team anthem turns a cheering section into a spelling lesson built around -ight words.

Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets Text 40 Undated text
Public domainLearningSpellingWordplayBoisterousPlayful
Complete public-domain lyrics

Also titled Fight Song, this Electric Company lyric alternates singers with a shouted cheering section. Their overlapping line at the first Fight? is separated for reading, and editorial role prefixes preserve who says each response. The original alternative quarterback couplet is described in the source footnote, not combined with the revised main version. The opening and final all-cast shouts are retained.

All · Opening cheer

Rah, rah! Sis-boom-bah!

Hip-hoo-ray and cha-cha-cha!

Fight, might, right

Singers: Fight!

Cheering: F-I-G-H-T

Singers: We may not win, but then again we might!

Cheering: M-I-G-H-T

Singers: And even if we don’t, it’s still all right,

Cheering: R-I-G-H-T

Singers: So why not

Singers: Fight?

Cheering: Give a cheer, give a yell,

Cheering: And while we’re here we might as well

Night and light

Singers: Fight!

Cheering: F-I-G-H-T

Singers: ‘Cause if we don’t, we may be here all night

Cheering: N-I-G-H-T

Singers: Let’s try to keep our casualties light

Cheering: L-I-G-H-T

Singers: And why not

Singers: Fight?

Sight and tight

Singers: Our team is out-a-sight,

Cheering: S-I-G-H-T

Singers: So let’s not get uptight,

Cheering: T-I-G-H-T

Singers: And why not

Singers: Fight!

Cheering section

Cheering: Give a cheer, give a yell,

Cheering: Show them we know how to spell

Cheering: F-I-G-H-T

All · Finale

Fight!

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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