Gather ‘round while I sing you of Wernher von Braun
A man whose allegiance
Is ruled by expedience
Call him a Nazi, he won’t even frown
“Nazi, Schmazi!” says Wernher von Braun
Don’t say that he’s hypocritical
Say rather that he’s apolitical
“Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?
That’s not my department!” says Wernher von Braun
Some have harsh words for this man of renown
But some think our attitude
Should be one of gratitude
Like the widows and cripples in old London town
Who owe their large pensions to Wernher von Braun
You too may be a big hero
Once you’ve learned to count backwards to zero
“In German, und Englisch, I know how to count down
Und I’m learning Chinese!” says Wernher von Braun
-Tom Lehrer
You beat me to it. I love that song!
I’ll never forget in 1966 visiting my Dad at work on the Marshall Space Flight Center, looking up at the penthouse of the building next door and being amazed that the exalted Doctor von Braun might have been right up there looking down at me eye to eye.
Note the video: Song is sung in that video. 🙂
Or you can go to Youtube to see the video: