From Berlin’s last Musical “Mr. President,” 1962. [cut]
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Cover Art by Hal Weinstein.
Copyright ©31 Jul 1962.
The sheet music:
Lyrics:
VERSE 1
Listen to the story
Of a man named Joe,
A man who ruled with Russians
Many years ago,
A leader who was feared be all
The folks he led
Till the morning when they suddenly
Pronounced him dead.
CHORUS 1
Poor Joe, poor Joe—
Just exactly how it happened
We will never know.
But they gave him such a fun-ral,
Like you’ve never seen,
And they placed him in a tomb
Beside his pal Leneen—
Poor Joe, poor Joe.
VERSE 2
People came to see him
In the tomb each day
Until they got a message
Signed by Mister K,
He called a special meeting
And he told the clan
That ever-lovin’ Joseph
Was a bad, bad man.
CHORUS 2
Poor Joe, poor Joe—
They decided at the meeting
That he’d have to go.
There were some who thought
They treated Joseph very mean
When they took him from the tomb
Beside his pal Leneen—
Joe, poor, poor Joe.
VERSE 3
After they removed him
From his spacious tomb,
They placed him in a field
Where there was not much room.
A narrow piece of ground
Is all the Russians gave,
Just in case he thought
Of turning over in his grave.
CHORUS 3
Poor Joe, poor Joe—
Now he’s resting very lonely
Where the daisies grow,
Yes, he’s resting very lonely
Where the grass is green.
And he’s waiting the arrival
Of his pal Leneen—
Joe, poor, poor Joe.