Harry Truman (A Life) Lyrics

In a little Missouri town, Lamar, in 1884

Thursday, in fact, May 8th, Harry Truman, his mom bore

He went to college for a year, then worked sporadically

He joined the War as a captain in the field artillery

In '11, Harry asked Bess to marry, but, then, she declined

It wasn't till '19 when they wed, his service changed her mind

With his party's help, he became a judge after failing at his store

Then, they had one child, Mary, who appeared in '24

He liked politics, it paid well, so he ran for senator

He won and served two terms, starting in 1934

He headed a committee to find military contract waste

And saved billions from what he found, doubts about him were erased

Harry S. Truman, president number 33

His foreign goals, achieved but not those made domestically

FDR chose him for VP his fourth term, history says

82 days later, Roosevelt died, Harry became Prez

To save lives on both sides, the atom bombs, he authorized

After the war, to halt Russia, his Doctrine he utilized

His Marshall Plan helped rebuild Europe, and NATO, their defense

And used fear of Communism to cover the expense

Harry served till '53, then to Missouri, he returned

Wrote his memoirs, sometimes taught, shared his social concerns

At 88, on the day after Christmas, Harry died

It was '72, then ten years later, Bess was at his side

Harry's legacy was his firmness against all perceived crimes

He helped to fight the growing threats, during those dangerous times