top of page

 Ode to Join 

[On Democracy Inaction]

To "Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, OP. 125 - Finale"

(Music by Ludwig van Beethoven, 

based on "Ode to Joy" by Friedrich Schiller)

Parody Lyrics by Marcy Shaffer

Arranged by Greg Hilfman

WE ARE POTUS.*  
[*President OThe United States]
IF YOU QUOTE US?
WE WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE A HELL.
JUST A THOUGHT, OH:
HERE'S OUR MOTTO.
"YOU DON'T ASK, AND WE DON'T TELL."
SECRET BEATINGS. 
SECRET RETREATINGS.
SECRET DELETINGS. 
WE CAN MASK.
OF THIS NATION'S VIOLATIONS:
WE WON'T TELL, AND YOU WON'T ASK.
AT CONSTRAINING REINS ON OUR REIGNING.
AND AT EXPLAINING. 
WE REBEL.
WE CAN TRACK MAIL. 
ALSO BLACKMAIL.
YOU DON'T ASK, AND WE WON'T TELL! 
 
WE'RE THE SENATE.
NOW AND THEN IT
SERVES TO LOB AN ANGRY SHELL.
BUT OUR RAGING IS JUST STAGING.
WE DON'T ASK, AND YOU DON'T TELL.
FLAGS ON FIRE.
GAGS ON DESIRE.
QUAGS WITHOUT MIRE.
THERE WE BASK.
NO REVAMPING. 
RUBBER-STAMPING!
YOU WON'T TELL, SO WE WON'T ASK.
NODDING AND WINKING.
THAT IS OUR THINKING.
WHATEVER'S STINKING? 
WE WON'T SMELL.
OVERSIGHT, IT'S OVER. 
RIGHT!
IT'S:
WE DON'T ASK, AND YOU DON'T TELL. 
 
WE'RE OF FISA.
* 
[
*Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]
WE COMPRISE A
COURT SUPPORT SO YOU CAN SELL 
CONSTITUTION 
DISSOLUTION. 
WE DON'T ASK, AND YOU DON'T TELL.
EVILDOERS. 
DECEIVE INTERVIEWERS.
LEAVE THE PURSUERS 
TO THEIR TASK!
BEING BRUTUS 
DOESN'T SUIT US.
YOU WON'T TELL, SO WE DON'T ASK.
UNORDAINED SPYING. 
SCATTERBRAINED PRYING.
UNCONTAINED LYING. 
WE WON'T QUELL.
JUST ASSURE US YOU'LL SECURE US.
WE WON'T ASK WHAT YOU WON'T TELL. 
 
WE'RE THE PRESS.
WE MUST CONFESS.
WE'VE FALLEN VICTIM TO YOUR SPELL.
FIRST YOU DARED SO. 
THEN YOU SCARED. SO
WE DON'T ASK, AND YOU DON'T TELL.
WHY DESPOIL WILDERNESS ROYAL?
DRILLING FOR OIL IN ALASKA. 
WHAT'S THE HITCH HERE? 
WHO GETS RICH HERE?
YOU WON'T TELL, SO WE DON'T ASK.
WOE WE CAN'T PROMISE 
MORE HELEN THOMAS! 
THROWING A BOMB. 
THIS COULD COMPEL:
A RENOWNED SOUND CUT 
WE COULD POUND.  BUT
WE WON'T ASK, AND YOU WON'T TELL. 
 
[ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE] 
 
WE'RE YOUR "FOLKS."
THE ONES YOU COAX.
TO TRUST YOU, LIKE IN GEORGE ORWELL.
RARELY VETTING, NOW REGRETTING.
WE DON'T ASK AND YOU DON'T TELL.
WHY OH WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO HIDE? 
WHAT SHOULD BE OUTSIDE.
NOT IN SOME CASK.
WHY INCITEMENTS? 
WHY INDICTMENTS? 
YOU DON'T TELL AND WE DON'T ASK.
WHAT'S YOUR HANDY PLAN FOR IRAN?
AFGHANISTAN? CAN THAT LAND YET GEL?
WE'LL HAVE EARNED ALL YOU HAVE BURNED.
IF WE DON'T WAKE AND MAKE YOU TELL.
WILL WE ASK 
UNTIL 
YOU TELL? 

ANGIE JARÉE - LEAD VOCAL, BACKGROUND VOCAL

JANIS LIEBHART - LEAD VOCAL, BACKGROUND VOCAL

GUY MAEDA - LEAD VOCAL, BACKGROUND VOCAL

VICTOR ZHARKOV - LEAD VOCAL, BACKGROUND VOCAL

GREG HILFMAN - MUSIC DIRECTOR

Ⓟ © 2006, 2008 mediaV LLC. Lyrics @ 2006 mediaV LLC. All rights reserved.  These files are provided for personal listening only. No broadcast, reproduction, distribution or performance of this recording or this video or these lyrics is permitted, in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written authorization of mediaV LLC.  Broadcast quality audio available.  For more information, contact licensing@versusplus.com.

bottom of page