From the film “White Christmas”, 1948
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
When the war was over there were jobs galore
For the G. I. Josephs who were in the war
But for Generals things were not so grand
And it’s not so hard to understand
Chorus
What can you do with a General
When he stops being a General
Oh, what can you do with a General who retires
Who’s got a job for a General
When he stops being a General?
They all get a job but a General no one hires
He walks into an office in answer to an ad
He’ll take the job that’s offered
The pay is not too bad
They ask his last position
He answers with a punch
“I was a General”
And they ask him out to lunch
And he has to meet the mob
But he doesn’t get the job
Nobody thinks of assigning him
When they’ve stopped wining and dining him
It seems this country never has enjoyed
So many one and two and three
And four-star Generals unemployed
Chorus
What can you do with a General
When he stops being a General
Oh, what can you do with a General who retires
Who’s got a job for a General
When he stops being a General?
They all get a job but a General no one hires
They fill his chest with medals
While he’s across the foam
And they spread the crimson carpet
When he comes marching home
The next day someone hollers
When he comes into view
“Here comes the General”
And they all say, “General who?”
They’re delighted that he came
But they can’t recall his name
Somehow he’s not understood enough
They think no job could be good enough
That’s why this country never has enjoyed
So many one and two and three
And four-star Generals unemployed
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: