Monkey That Became President
I was there on the day the monkey came into this world
His face was round and reddish and his hair was slightly curled
He didn't look too different from the others I had seen
Who'd've thought he was the answer to the nation's dream.
At first he didn't seem to be intelligent at all
Each time he'd start to walk about he'd stumble and he'd fall
My first impression was to be a most mistaken thought
Lord Almighty, what's this little hairy monkey wrought.
Because I witnessed his departure from his mother's womb
I felt inclined to check his progress every afternoon
One day the keeper of the Zoo called in the live TV
Brinkley said I think you'll be amazed at what you'll see.
The monkey walked and talked and waved his arms about his head
In the corner was a stack of books that he had read
An Educated Monkey said the papers cross the land
It was more than weary sociologists could stand.
Oh, his fame was universal he was on the Carson Show
People talked about him kindly everywhere he'd go
His insight was amazing his philosophy was fair
He became a politician welcomed everywhere.
His wit was not to be compared with any mind intact
He'd lace a phrase with irony and blend it all with fact
Conservatives applauded and the liberals were entranced
The bigots and the integrationists were in his camp.
Nobody dared to meet him in an open press debate
He was nominated by the folks from every state
Yes, a monkey was the President though maybe not the first
There was peace and harmony throughout the universe.
The dream I had last night has been related as it came
As for interpretation well it's really very plain
Would you rather have a monkey up in Washington DC
Or have those people making monkeys out of you and me?...
Macaco que Virou Presidente
Eu estava lá no dia em que o macaco veio ao mundo
Seu rosto era redondo e avermelhado, e seu cabelo levemente encaracolado
Ele não parecia muito diferente dos outros que eu já vi
Quem diria que ele seria a resposta para o sonho da nação.
No começo, ele não parecia ser inteligente nem um pouco
Toda vez que começava a andar, ele tropeçava e caía
Minha primeira impressão foi de um pensamento bem enganado
Senhor Todo-Poderoso, o que esse pequeno macaco peludo fez.
Porque eu testemunhei sua saída do ventre da mãe
Fiquei inclinado a acompanhar seu progresso toda tarde
Um dia, o cuidador do zoológico chamou a TV ao vivo
Brinkley disse: "Acho que você vai se surpreender com o que vai ver."
O macaco andou, falou e acenou com os braços na cabeça
No canto havia uma pilha de livros que ele tinha lido
Um Macaco Educado, diziam os jornais pelo país
Era mais do que os sociólogos cansados podiam suportar.
Oh, sua fama era universal, ele estava no Carson Show
As pessoas falavam dele com carinho onde quer que ele fosse
Sua visão era incrível, sua filosofia era justa
Ele se tornou um político, bem-vindo em todo lugar.
Sua sagacidade não podia ser comparada a nenhuma mente sã
Ele misturava ironia com fatos de forma genial
Os conservadores aplaudiam e os liberais estavam encantados
Os preconceituosos e os integracionistas estavam em seu time.
Ninguém se atrevia a enfrentá-lo em um debate aberto
Ele foi nomeado pelo povo de cada estado
Sim, um macaco era o Presidente, talvez não o primeiro
Havia paz e harmonia por todo o universo.
O sonho que tive na noite passada foi contado como veio
Quanto à interpretação, bem, é bem simples
Você prefere ter um macaco em Washington DC
Ou ter aquelas pessoas fazendo de você e de mim uns bobos?...
Composição: Tom T. Hall