Harry Chapin – I Don't Want To Be President lyrics

Just after I was born, my father said to everyone,
That I would be the President one day.
You're a natural politician, boy, get it in your head,
And you know that it might just turn out that way.

So through all the years of my childhood,
There more important things than to play.
I started caring for my country and my fellow man,
And this is what I would always say;

I'd say, I don't want to be President!
But I want to help the poor and the helpless people!
I really don't want to be President!
But if I'm elected I promise to be faithful!

I graduated college with my law degree.
I was a young man on the move, they'd always say.
I was helping my community, committed to the people,
I was working as a citizen, to build a better day.
They persuaded me to run for Congressman.
They said from Congress you could do much more good!
And you've got to have the power if you're changing things,
And I was hoping to do everything I could for the people!

I'd say I don't want to be President!
But I want to help the poor and the helpless people.
I really don't want to be President!
But if I'm elected I promise to be faithful!

Time is a march where the powerful are drummers,
Big business, big labor, big oil,
And soon I was meeting with the men who ran the country,
The men who owned the sky and the soil.
Oh, I became a Senator, a man to be reckoned with.
Playing golf with millionaires, and speaking on tv,
And when they talked of potential presidential candidates,
Most often talked about, and most prominent was me.
Well, I got the nomination, ran a campaign of conscience.
I stood for peace and brotherhood and for prosperity.
And on the day of the election I went home to my mansion.
When the people had spoken, they'd elected me!

But I don't want to be President!
I really don't want to be President!