Duration Blues Songtext
von Johnny Mercer

This modern age we′re going through
Has got me in a spin
I, I ain't too bright to start with
Now here′s the state I'm in

For anything and everything
There's stamps you′ve got to use
The Ds and Gs are groceries
Uh, I think the Ts are shoes
You have to be a FBI man
To figure out all the clues
And that′s the situation
When you've got them duration blues


The Army and the draft board
Keeps me kind of mixed up too
You′re in if you is 1-A
But if you ain't, then who are you?
The 3-As is essential
And the 4-Fs all have asthma
2-B gents is in defense
Or else they′re given plasma
Or else man you ain't got nothing
That the armed services can use

That is the unfortunate situation
When you′ve got them duration blues

Food will win the war they say
And that's okay with me
But when I go to the corner store

What do I see?
There's Spam and Wham and deviled ham
And something new called Zoom
Just take it home and heat it
To the temperature of the room
And you can bake it, flake it, cake it, make it
Take it any way you choose

Jack, that′s the situation
When you′ve got the duration blues


And then on top of everything
The taxes roll around
I went to see the income man
And this is what I found
Oh, you multiply the profits
And incorporate the loss
Deducting all expenditures
And anything else you come across
Then if you satisfy the government
It's 10 to 1 the little woman sues

Oh, that′s my situation
I got them duration blues