From “MISS LIBERTY,” 1949.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Cover Art by David Klein.
Copyright ©2 Jun 1949.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Times and Herald, Word and Sun
Each admits the other one is great
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
A profession that we love
And delighted to be members of
Our in Maine a dam has burst
‘Tho the Herald gets there first we’ll wait
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
None of us would ever stoop
To indulge in what we call a scoop
Giving you the news as we do our stint
Seeing that the news is well presented
All the news that’s fit and unfit to print
All the facts as soon as they’re invented
If your sales are not okay
Who’ll be very glad to say they’re great
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
We will say you’re doing fine
At a dollar fifty cents a line
From the East to the West to the North
Not the first, nor the second, nor the third
But the Fourth Estate
2. When a baby starts to bounce
Out of wedlock who’ll announce the date
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
We agree to spread the word when the stork
Becomes an early bird
When they raided Madam’s flat
Filled with husbands, who was at the gate
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
When a married man lets go
We believe the public ought to know
Every now and then we send out some checks
Paying off the folks who sue for libel
Saturday we give you murder and sex
Sunday we’ll be quoting from the Bible
When elections have been planned
Who can pick the winning candidate
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
When the people cast their votes
We can all go home and cut our throats
From the East to the West to the North
Not the first, nor the second, nor the third
But the Fourth Estate
3. Interviews are such a bore
But who’ll always get your story straight
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
If you haven’t news that day
We’ll be glad to misquote what you say
Who will publish your attack
Saying that we’ve been inaccurate
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
We’ll be glad to print your gripes
On the last page in the smallest type
While exposing men who keep breaking laws
What’s the difference if we pull a bloomer
Never check a story, print it because
It may just turn out to be a rumor
When you’re laid out stiff and cold
Who will meet you at the Golden Gate
The Hon’rable Profession of the Fourth Estate
And you must be free from sin
Otherwise we just won’t let you in
From the East to the West to the North
Not the first, nor the second, nor the third
But the Fourth Estate