HOW NICE TO BE A PHYSICIST, by Arthur Roberts

How nice to be a physicist in 1947,

To hold finance in less esteem than Molotov does Bevan,

To shun the importuning men with treasure who would lend it,

To think of money only when you wonder how to spend it,

Oh,

Research is long,

And time is short

Fill the shelves with new equipment,

Order it by carload shipment,

Never give

A second thought

You can have whatever can be bought.

How nice to be a physicist in this our year of grace,

To see the scornful world at last admit your rightful place,

To see the senators defer to every wise pronouncement

To fascinate the women's club, and star at each commencement,

Oh,

Research is long,

And time is short

Drink your fill of adoration,

Glory in the new sensation,

Never give

A second thought

Sinatra holds a place that many sought.

But have you sought a physicist and place for him to dwell,

And searched the town in vain to find a vacant dungeon cell

Or tried to teach a thousand students who can't do a sum

The girls who'd like to be Greer Garson finding radium?

Oh,

Research is long,

And time is short

Toward the thesis drive the student,

Physics was his choice imprudent,

Never give

A second thought

Brains are still a thing that can't be bought.

Oh did you write a book on fission which you tried to sell?

Or wonder while you lectured what you could or couldn't tell?

Or try to get declassified some nuclear equations,

Or wonder if the work you do was done at secret stations?

Oh,

Research is long,

And time is short

If you find a fact essential

Classify it confidential

Never give

A second thought

The F.B.I.'s approval must be sought.

How nice to be a physicist in 1947,

How nice . . . ?

How long do you think it would take to learn something about butterflies?