Dear Ivan Songtext
von Jimmy Dean

To Ivan Kavanovich, USSR

Dear Ivan, you don′t know me and I don't know you
But I sure would like to meet you
Yes sir, I′d like to walk up and shake your hand
And look you straight in the eye and tell you
That I haven't got one thing in this world against you

I know that the heads of our governments
Seem to have problems getting together to talk things over

But I got a feeling if you and I could just sit down and talk
Not as representatives of anybody's government
But just two plain ordinary human beings
I feel that we might think a great deal alike

I′m an entertainer now, Ivan
I used to be a farmer just like you
I got a wife and three kids
And this may sound a little unpatriotic
But to me these are more important
Than the heads of anybody′s government


A few years back you and I both left the farm
And we put on a uniform
And we were on the same side of the fence
You and me, Ivan
And you know, I can't help but believe that
We′re still on the same side of the fence
That we would both like to see a world united in peace

I'll tell you something, Ivan
I love my land very much
Oh, we got some of the prettiest mountains
And trees and rivers and valleys that you′ve ever laid eyes on
And I'm sure that you feel the same way about your country
And I know that neither one of us would like to see
The face of our countries blackened
By the hot breath of anybody′s bombs

You know, they tell me that over there
You don't believe in a God

But though I've never met you
I can′t help but believe that a man
Who′s stood on a crisp fall morning
And watched the sun rise over his farmland
Or he's planted a small grain of corn
And seen it grow out of the fertile soil
Or better than that, Ivan
Held your own baby in your arms


I know that you know that there′s a God up there
Watching over each and every one of us

Ivan, when I put my babies to bed tonight
I'm gonna say a prayer for you and yours
And if you in your own way
Will say a prayer for me and mine
And maybe we can talk our neighbors into doing the same thing
This will be more powerful than any conference
Held over any conference table
Anywhere in the whole wide world
And then maybe we can live as God intended
Peacefully together

Yours truly, Jimmy Dean, USA