Lyric A Simple Desultory Philippic

(Or How I Was Robert McNamara d into Submission)

I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored.
I been John O Hara d, McNamara d.
I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I m blind.
I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, cause I m left-handed.
That s the hand I use, well, never mind!

I been Phil Spectored, resurrected.
I been Lou Adlered, Barry Sadlered.
Well, I paid all the dues I want to pay.
And I learned the truth from Lenny Bruce,
And all my wealth won t buy me health,
So I smoke a pint of tea a day.

I knew a man, his brain was so small,
He couldn t think of nothing at all.
He s not the same as you and me.
He doesn t dig poetry. He s so unhip that
When you say Dylan, he thinks you re talking about Dylan Thomas,
Whoever he was.
The man ain t got no culture,
But it s alright, ma,
Everybody must get stoned.

I been Mick Jaggered, silver daggered.
Andy Warhol, won t you please come home?
I been mothered, fathered, aunt and uncled,
Been Roy Haleed and Art Garfunkeled.
I just discovered somebody s tapped my phone.