Irving Berlin

They Like Ike

Irving Berlin


[1st verse:]
The presidential year will soon be drawing near
The people soon will choose their fav'rite son
I wonder what they'll do in Nineteen fifty-two
I wonder who they'll send to Washington

[1st refrain:]
They like Ike
And Ike is good on a mike
They like Ike
-But Ike says he don't wanna

That makes Ike
The kind o' feller they like
And what's more
They seem to think he's gonna

-But Harry won't get out
-They're in for plenty of fights
-Harry won't get out
-He's got squatter's rights

But there's Ike
And Ike is good on a mike
And they know
The votes that he can carry
-But don't forget there's Harry
But they like Ike

[2nd verse:]
They won't take Saltonstall and Stassen's chance is small
The same would go for Vandenberg and Taft
And Dewey's right in line with William Jennings Bryan
There isn't anyone that they can draft

[2nd refrain:]
They like Ike
And Ike is good on a mike
They like Ike
-But Ike says he won't take it

That makes Ike
The kind o' feller they like
And what's more
They seem to think he'll make it

-But Harry's on the ground
-And should Republicans win
-When they come around
-He won't let them in

If it's Ike
Your Chief can get on his bike
And his things
A moving van will carry
-They can't do that to Harry!
But they like Ike

[3rd verse:]
For nearly twenty years we've had the people's cheers
The Democrats continue to advance
Of course, they could arrange to make a sudden change
But no one's 'round who seems to have a chance

[3rd refrain:]
They like Ike
And Ike is good on a mike
They like Ike
-But Ike says he's not bidding

That makes Ike
The kind o' feller they like
And what's more
They seem to think he's kidding

-But Harry won't consent
-They'll get a sock on the jaw
-Republican President?
-That's against the law

If it's Ike
Your Chief can go on a hike
And we boys
Will see he doesn't tarry
-Please don't do that to Harry!
But they like Ike

[4th verse:]
With your permission, sir, we're anxious to confer
And we would like to do it privately
Go on and make your crack, I'll even turn my back
But if you're speaking of the G.O.P.

[4th refrain:]
They like Ike
And Ike is good on a mike
They like Ike
-But Ike says he'll reject it

That makes Ike
The kind o' feller they like
And what's more
They think he'll be elected

-But Harry won't give in
-Defeat he'll never admit
-No one else can win
-He won't stand for it

If it's Ike
Your Chief can get on his bike
Two years more
The month of January
-They can't do that to Harry!
But they like Ike

[5th verse:]
It seems that ev'ry Spring they all approach the ring
And cockily keep throwing in their hats
They always lose but then they come right back again
And some of them come back as Democrats

[5th refrain:]
They like Ike
And Ike is good on a mike
They like Ike
-But Ike says he don't choose to

That makes Ike
The kind o' feller they like
And what's more
They know he won't refuse to

-But Harry is content
-To stay there living in peace
-The people pay the rent
-You can't break his lease

If it's Ike
Your Chief can go on a strike
And we boys
Will hand his hat to Harry
-You can't do that to Harry!
But they like Ike