Landslide Lyndon
The Joke's on You, Russell
Singers: LBJ
© 2024 Marc Dinkin and Kenny Shea Dinkin
LBJ finally shows his cards to Russell. With the powerful 1964 civil rights act passed, he reveals how he played the part of an anti civil rights conservative to gain Russell's trust and support. He then used this support to rise in power until he was in a position high enough to pass civil rights.
LYRICS
THE OVAL OFFICE. SPRING 1964. DAY
Curtain up on Dick Russell yelling at LBJ. Russel’s holding a scotch.
RUSSELL
A real Civil Rights bill? You were the great Southern hope. We were counting on you, Lyndon!
LBJ
Well, Dick, I guess this time
LBJ punctuates his next words with hard pokes to Russell’s chest.
LBJ
The joke’s on you
The joke's on you
Johnson walks stage left, and sings to the audience
I’ve had these rednecks thinking I’m the head of their cause
No one suspects a man from Texas would pass voting rights laws.
Though only Russell had the muscle to get me to this place
It’s time I shoved his tough love right back in his face
Don’t be alarmed that he and I walked arm and arm because the case is:
My secret ace is all the racists think I’m racist.
So Mr. Bible quoting, anti-voting man of the Klan
I may say Y’all with a drawl but you don’t know who I am
You think I’m standing in your corner and I’ll come to your aid
When all the while my smile’s been a masquerade
Forget about my pretty words and see what I do
Because you’ll wake up in the morning to find...
The joke’s on you
The joke’s on you
The joke’s on you.
Johnson meanders back to Russell as lights come back on in the oval office.
LBJ
Well Dick, how’s the scotch?