Mr. President ~ original album circa 1962

The First Lady ~ Kaye Ballard with Perry Como intro
( She's the First Lady, she's the First Lady, 
she's the First Lady of the land! ) 
 
She might have been a teacher 
a job that she'd adore . . .
She might have been a housewife 
a wife and nothing more!
She might have been an actress
who might have played Broadway!
But my husband had to be President ( hmm . . . )
and what am I today?
 
I'm the "first" lady of the land, 
the "first" lady of the land
standing on a receiving line, 
winding up with an aching spine
calluses  on my receiving hand, 
as the "first" lady of the land!
 
For every week a different hairdo, 
which means another dress
those meetings with committees, 
and sparing with the "press" 
those dreary formal dinners, 
when I stay up 'till dawn
counting all the silver 
when the guests have gone!
 
When they march out in single file, 
and I must smile, smile, smile!
I'd rather be the second 
or the third or the forth 
or the fifth or the sixth 
or the seventh instead 
of the "first" lady of the land!
 
I'm the "first" lady of the land, 
the "first" lady of the land
entertaining at lunch or tea, 
do do-gooders who call on me 
telling of their noble deeds they've planned 
for the "first" lady of the land!
 
And oh the presents that they send me
an awful lot of junk 
an un-housebroken poodle 
a dehydrated skunk
a turkey for "Thanksgiving"
potat'as in a sack
but when they send me a "diamond"
I must send it back!
 
When the whole cabinet arrives
and bring their wives, wives, WIVES!
I'd rather be the second 
or the third or the forth 
or the fifth or the sixth 
or the seventh instead 
of the "first" lady of the land!
 
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
The Best of Irving Berlin's Songs from 'Mr. President'
Performed by Kaye Ballard with intro by Perry Como
with Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers
Original RCA RecordingVinyl VersionSelekt Link | Large View |
Produced for records by Hugo & Luigi
Orchestrations by Philip J. Lang
Vocal Arrangements by Ray Charles
With Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra & the Ray Charles Singers
Also with Kaye Ballard and Sandy Stewart
Recorded in Webster Hall, New York City
Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson
Recorded September 30th, 1962

Composer Index
A Perry Como Discography 
& Digital Companion

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Friday, April 07, 2023

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