The Monkey That Became President Lyrics - Storyteller Poet Philosopher - Tom T. Hall

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-a-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 a'mighty, 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 

Frankly said, "I think you'll be amazed at what you see" 

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The monkey walked and talked and waved his arms about his head 

In the corner was the 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 welcome 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 

And there was peace and harmony throughout the universe 

Photos 

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, D.C. 

Or have those people making monkeys out of you and me?