( She's the First Lady, she's the First Lady,

she's the First Lady of the land! )



She might have been a teacher

a job that she'd adore . . .

She might have been a housewife

a wife and nothing more!

She might have been an actress

who might have played Broadway!

But my husband had to be President ( hmm . . . )

and what am I today?



I'm the "first" lady of the land,

the "first" lady of the land

standing on a receiving line,

winding up with an aching spine

calluses on my receiving hand,

as the "first" lady of the land!



For every week a different hairdo,

which means another dress

those meetings with committees,

and sparing with the "press"

those dreary formal dinners,

when I stay up 'till dawn

counting all the silver

when the guests have gone!



When they march out in single file,

and I must smile, smile, smile!

I'd rather be the second

or the third or the forth

or the fifth or the sixth

or the seventh instead

of the "first" lady of the land!



I'm the "first" lady of the land,

the "first" lady of the land

entertaining at lunch or tea,

do do-gooders who call on me

telling of their noble deeds they've planned

for the "first" lady of the land!



And oh the presents that they send me

an awful lot of junk

an un-housebroken poodle

a dehydrated skunk

a turkey for "Thanksgiving"

potat'as in a sack

but when they send me a "diamond"

I must send it back!



When the whole cabinet arrives

and bring their wives, wives, WIVES!

I'd rather be the second

or the third or the forth

or the fifth or the sixth

or the seventh instead

of the "first" lady of the land!



Words and Music by Irving Berlin