LYRICS

​

JENKINS

Hey Lyndon Johnson, you’re needed

We’re feeling defeated

The Democratic Funds Committee’s really depleted.

 

LBJ

I don’t have time to spare

But if no one wants it, I could be the chair.

​

CONNALLY & JENKINS

Great!

 

LBJ (picks up the phone)

Herman Brown, how ya been? How’s that bridge? How’s the dam?

Well you know you’ve always got the backing of Uncle Sam

Well remember that base, right near my hometown?

That’s gonna be built by none other than Brown and Brown

 

LBJ (CONT’D)

You got the contract!

 

CONNALLY & JENKINS

(spoken) He did?

 

LBJ (puts hand up to them, as if to say, “Shush”)

What’s that? You’d like to show appreciation

To the leaders of our nation?

​

(spoken) Now there's no need for that!

​

CONNALLY & JENKINS

What happened? How much did he say?

​

LBJ (matter-of-factly)

Brown is down for 90K!

And that's the way the dog will slay the fat cat!

​

CONNALLY & JENKINS (Jenkins mock-staggers and clutches his chest, as if having a heart attack)

We’re rich!

​

LBJ

You boys want to start working for me?

 

CONNALLY AND JENKINS

Yes!

 

JENKINS

I'm Walter Jenkins

 

CONNALLY

And I'm John Connally

 

LBJ
And I'm your salvation...Cause we’ve got dark money

Flowing from us to the Dems LBJ

I’m giving out dark money Honey, I’m the man who gives out all the gems.

Suddenly the power brokers come to me on one knee

Hoping I’ll give them some of my dark money.

 

RFK shakes his head and gives Johnson a dirty look.

 

RFK

And when the year was done, everyone in Congress knew

LBJ

I was the Pharaoh of Dinero

Kept the funds coming through.

 

RFK

Between the oil and the dams, your hands got kinda dirty

But that’s the way you get to be a congressman by thirty.

 

LBJ And there’s plenty room for companions in my palace

Like my loyal boys (gestures to Connally and Jenkins)

 

RFK

And your new friend, Alice.

(RFK puts his arm around ALICE GLASS, who has sexily walked in. He passes her to LBJ who kisses her. LBJ twerks with her for a moment before singing the next verse. Alice watches LBJ until the end of the song)

 

RFK (CONT’D)

If you climb through the slime, you can always take a shower

And make a clean break for the tower of power.

 

LBJ

Yes everybody knows me

And everybody owes me now

Well I was low before but now I’m on the mountain ‘

Cause nobody cares if you took the stairs

Or like me

 

RFK

You’ve got the balls

 

LBJ

To say, “Fuck the stairs!” RFK And climb the walls

of the tower of power. 

The tower of power 

The tower of power. 

​

The scene ends with LBJ back on the top of the tower he built before, now in a congressman’s style suit, with the letters “L.B.J.” floating in the sky like fireworks. He tosses dollar bills at the people below. After the song, RFK looks on and shakes his head. LBJ scowls at him. Alice exits, passing Lady Bird. Both women stop as they assess each other. Lady Bird then continues into the apartment. The Lights change.