LYRICS​

​

LBJ (spoken)

Now I’m not saying I didn’t bend a few branches to get there.  I did. (winks)

But I climbed up fair and square starting as the smallest of all creatures - a congressional aide!

​

LBJ transforms himself into a young adult LBJ

LBJ will climb the stairs, pushing the flunkies off each sub level as he ascends. 

​

LBJ

Now the congressmen's aides made a “little Congress.”

It’s little-known club where aides can practice their debate

 

AIDE

This club has no power, are you sure you really want this?!

 

LBJ

Of course, a fake congress - I can hardly wait!

 

AIDE

Now you say you want to run for the Little Congress leader?

​

LBJ

A position I invented

 

ZEPHYR

(approvingly) You little fox!

 

WOMAN AIDE

But I’m running as well!

 

LBJ

And it was clear I couldn’t beat her

So I had my friends stuff the ballot box. 

                                                                                   

LBJ

(Spoken to audience with fake surprise)  Look at that! I won!

​

And with the branches in place

My connections all flowered

With the congressmen living in 

the tower of power!

 

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 take the stairs

Or you make it to the zenith

From the nadir

By taking a ride in the elevator

 

LBJ and  ZEPHYR

Of the tower of power

The tower of power

 

LBJ

On the tower of power.

 

LBJ

(walks over to two guys working at a desk)

Say…is this the National Youth Administration?

I’m here because  I want to join and serve and help my nation

​​

MAN

Alright my friend you’re hired welcome to the NYA .

​

LBJ

I can’t believe you let me run things on my very first day

​

MEN

Wait a minute there, you're totally new

 

LBJ
It's OK, if you stay, you can help me too

​​

MAN

[spoken)

Who are you?

​

LBJ

(to the audience) 

I'm young but I'm a rising star

And I’m pretty sure that word of me has just reached FDR

​​

RFK

You better fall in line you better shake and fear and cower

Or he’ll throw you out the window of 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 take the stairs

Or you make it to the zenith

From the nadir

By taking a ride

in the elevator

Of the tower of power

The tower of power

The tower of power.