Who's Next? lyrics

Song information

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

Lyrics

One of the big news items of the past year concerned the fact that china, which we called "red china," exploded a nuclear bomb, which we called a device. then indonesia announced that it was going to have one soon, and proliferation became the word of the day. here's a song about that:

First we got the bomb, and that was good
'Cause we love peace and motherhood
Then russia got the bomb, but that's okay
'Cause the balance of power's maintained that way
Who's next?

France got the bomb, but don't you grieve
'Cause they're on our side (i believe)
China got the bomb, but have no fears
They can't wipe us out for at least five years
Who's next?

Then indonesia claimed that they
Were gonna get one any day
South africa wants two, that's right:
One for the black and one for the white
Who's next?

Egypt's gonna get one too
Just to use on you know who
So israel's getting tense
Wants one in self defense
"The lord's our shepherd," says the psalm
But just in case, we better get a bomb
Who's next?

Luxembourg is next to go
And (who knows?) maybe monaco
We'll try to stay serene and calm
When alabama gets the bomb
Who's next?
Who's next?
Who's next?
Who's next?