Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  



Swivel Chair Reserves

Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1952 Schroder Music Company. a.k.a. "Ticker Tape Parade" and "The Bankers and the Diplomats." This is the original version of the song later reworked into "We Hate to See Them Go" before Malvina added a chorus and rewrote the final verse. In the Table of Contents to her songbook Song in My Pocket Malvina writes of this song: "I'm a great believer in dreaming out loud, in public, and to music. It sets feet moving in the right direction."


The bankers and diplomats
Are going in the Army,
Oh happy day, I'd give my pay
To see them on parade.
Their paunches at attention
And their striped pants at ease,
They've gotten patriotic
And they're going overseas,
We'll have to do the best we can
And bravely carry on,
So we'll just keep the laddies here
To manage while they're gone.

The bankers and diplomats
Are going in the Army,
It seemed a shame to keep them from
The mess they loved to plan.
We're certainly contented
That they'll fight a dandy war,
They don't need propaganda--
They know what they're fighting for;
They'll step along with dignity
And in the best of form,
And we'll just keep the laddies here
To keep the lassies warm.

The bankers and the diplomats
They're filling up the Army,
It's all too many sweet young men
They've sent to Heartbreak Hill,
It's time they got a bellyful
Of what they're dishing out,
And so we'll line them up in ranks
And holler "Right About!"
We'll empty out the Pentagon
And march them out to sea,
And the lads can stay at home with us
Where they belong to be.


Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
---- Song in My Pocket [as "The Bankers and the Diplomats," and with only two verses given]

Other place(s) where the music to this song appears:
---- Sing Out!, Volume 3(4) (1952), p. 3
---- Sing Out!, Volume 5(2) (1955), p. 33 [adds chorus and substitutes new third verse]

Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
---- [none]


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