Wernher Von Braun lyrics

Song information

Artist: Tom Lehrer
Album: That Was The Year That Was

Lyrics

And what is it that put america in the forefront of the nuclear nations? and what is it that will make it possible to spend 20 billion dollars of your money to put some clown on the moon? well, it was good old american know-how, that's what. as provided by good old americans like dr. wernher von braun

Gather round while I sing you of wernher von braun
A man whose allegiance
Is ruled by expedience
Call him a nazi, he won't even frown
"Ha, nazi schmazi," says wernher von braun

Don't say that he's hypocritical
Say rather that he's apolitical

"Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?
That's not my department," says wernher von braun

Some have harsh words for this man of renown
But some think our attitude
Should be one of gratitude
Like the widows and cripples in old london town
Who owe their large pensions to wernher von braun

You too may be a big hero
Once you've learned to count backwards to zero
"In german oder english I know how to count down
Und I'm learning chinese," says wernher von braun