A funny song from 1965
words and music by Tom Lehrer
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- 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
“Nazi, Shmazi,” 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
Sung here by Vancha March: