Pollution lyrics

Song information

Artist: Tom Lehrer
Album: That Was The Year That Was

Lyrics

Time was when an american about to go abroad would be warned by his friends or the guidebooks not to drink the water. but times have changed and now a foreigner coming to this country might be offered the following advice

If you visit american city
You will find it very pretty
Just two things of which you must beware:
Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air

Pollution, pollution
They got smog and sewage and mud
Turn on your tap and get hot and cold running crud

See the halibuts and the sturgeons
Being wiped out by detergents
Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly
But they don't last long if they try

Pollution, pollution
You can use the latest toothpaste
And then rinse your mouth with industrial waste

Just go out for a breath of air
And you'll be ready for medicare
The city streets are really quite a thrill
If the hoods don't get you, the monoxide will

Pollution, pollution
Wear a gas mask and a veil
Then you can breathe, long as you don't inhale

Lots of things there that you can drink
But stay away from the kitchen sink
The breakfast garbage that you throw in to the bay
They drink at lunch in san jose

So go to the city, see the crazy people there
Like lambs to the slaughter
They're drinking the water
And breathing <cough> the air

[from http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk]

"That Was The Year That Was" album track list