LANDSLIDE LYNDON
Landslide Lyndon Reprise
Singers: Vice President Johnson, Lady Bird
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© 2024 Marc Dinkin and Kenny Shea Dinkin
On the eve of a Life magazine cover story exposing Johnson's legal troubles, he accompanied President Kennedy on trip to Dallas that he helped organize to shore up their support in the South. As he and Lady Bird travel in the motorcade, he laments the inevitable political ruin that is about to ensue as his transgressions come to light in an upcoming Congressional inquiry. Will this scandal forever destroy his chances of becoming president? Will Kennedy drop him as his Vice President in the upcoming 1964 election? Will he ever be anything again?
LYRICS​
EXT. DALLAS, TEXAS. NOVEMBER 22 1963 DAY
In the motorcade, Lady Bird sits in a car between LBJ and Senator Yarborough, who is not talking to LBJ
LADY BIRD
Oh Lyndon! Look at that crowd up at Dealey Plaza.
LBJ
I see it, Bird.
LADY BIRD
What's wrong, honey? They love you
LBJ
Oh, sweetheart. No one loves me
LADY BIRD
Look at them, Lyndon - they're all cheering
LBJ
I see the crowds, but all I'm hearing
Are cheers for the man in that car up ahead
To these folks, this country, Lyndon Johnson's dead
LADY BIRD
But Lyndon...
LBJ
As we speak back in DC
A senate committee investigates me
Life Magazine's working on an expose
On Baker and me - I'll be cast away!
LBJ & OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR
On the back of Landlide Lyndon,
They've pinned every sin done in DC
LBJ
I'm stuck on everyone's bad side
And the landslide
Is gonna land on me.
LADY BIRD
Lyndon, be patient. One day when the second term is over, the mantle will pass to you
LBJ
Bird, do you really think Jack would choose another
Successor, when his own brother
Sits beside him, loved and respected?
Any chance I had - Bobby wrecked it
And when a horse is down, you kick it
Why not drop me from the ticket?
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR
He once was Landslide Lyndon!
LBJ
Had the wind in my sails, now I barely crawl
I was never meant to be the president.
Daddy…looks like I'll never be anything at all.
GUNSHOT! BAM!
LIGHTS OFF
CROWD SCREAMS
GUNSHOT!
LBJ
Bird! Get down!
SFX of swerving, skidding, peeling rubber
GUNSHOT!
LIGHTS OFF