Songs and Lyrics (Lehrer)/Thank Him for Me
Thank Him for Me
words by Tom Lehrer
Once upon a timeless past
Someone with a faceless name
Opened a door for you,
Opened much more for you.
Maybe that was miles ago,
But he is with you just the same.
He helped you to be
What you are to me
Today.
So now it's me, and now it's you, and now it's us
But it didn't,
No, it didn't have to be,
And so when you see him,
If you ever see him,
Thank him for me.
Miracles don't just appear fully grown.
They start off as wonders
That have to be tended
And nourished and mended
Until they are splendid
Enough to go out on their own.
And somewhere in the timeless past
Is someone to be grateful to,
Like yesterday's vine
That made today's wine.
Maybe he has someone now
Who's happy that a part of you
Is somehow still his,
Wherever he is
Today.
And now it's me, and now it's you, and now it's us.
And it didn't,
No, it didn't have to be,
And so when you see him,
If you ever see him,
Thank him for me.
(There have been two settings for these lyrics, one by TL and one by Michael Gould.)