Classic Poem

VERSE 1

If Washington should come to life and see how matters stand,
A smile from George's lips would surely fall.
Instead of all the wasted fields and plains and barren land,
He'd find the greatest country of them all.
He'd find he's not neglected, that his mem'ry rends the air;
His monuments erected he would see most ev'rywhere.
He'd find a mighty nation of men who do and dare;
He'd find he's still the daddy of them all.

REFRAIN 1

I wonder what he'd think of Mister Morgan
And how he'd like political machines.
I wonder if he'd read what Thomas Lawson
Is writing for the monthly magazines.
I wonder how he'd take to Teddy Roosevelt,
I'd like to hear exactly what he'd say.
I wonder if he'd try to never tell a lie,
If Washington should come to life today.

VERSE 2

He'd marvel at the changes as he'd take a look around,
At motor cars he'd surely stop and stare.
I wonder what he'd think of all these railroads underground,
And elevated trains up in the air.
The Biograph would faze him when he'd see the pictures walk;
The phonograph would daze him when the thing began to talk;
The rush and shove amaze him if he ever saw New York
With its wondrous big skyscrapers all around.

REFRAIN 2

He'd soon discover we're no second-raters,
I know he'd sing the " Yankee Doodle Boy. "
I wonder if he'd visit our theaters,
I wonder if he'd laugh at Eddie Foy.
I wonder if he'd try to dope the horses,
I wonder what he'd think about Broadway.
He'd buy the New York Journal first,
And then he'd call on Willie Hearst,
If Washington should come to life today.