TAX TIME: Jan Graham writes, “On one of my visits home and while
doing some genealogy research, I came across this article and song
in the Jan. 27, 1942, issue of The Bradford Era. With ‘tax day’
looming, I thought this Irving Berlin song might be mildly
entertaining to some readers.”

“The article with the tune states that ‘a song will help on
March 15 when income taxes are due the Treasury.’ It should be
noted that ‘tax day’ has not always been April 15. From 1861-65,
taxes were due on June 30. From 1913-17, taxes were due on March 1.
Taxes were due on March 15 from 1918-54. April 15 has been ‘tax
day’ since 1955.

“Also, what do you get when you make one word out of ‘The’ and
‘IRS’?”

The article about the tax song notes, “If a song will help on
March 15 when income taxes are due, the Treasury has one. Secretary
Morgenthau, it was announced today, has received from Irving Berlin
a ‘popular’ tune on income taxes. (The Treasury put the quotes on
‘popular.’)”

Here it is:

Verse: I said to my Uncle Sam

‘Old man taxes, here I am.’

And he was glad to see me.

Mrs. Small Fry, yes indeed,

Lower brackets that’s my speed.

But he was glad to see me.

First Chorus: I paid my income tax today

I never felt so proud before.

To be right there with the millions more

Who paid their income tax today.

I’m squared up with the U.S.A.

You see those bombers in the sky

Rockefeller helped to build them,

So did I.

I paid my income tax today.

Second chorus: I paid my income tax today

A thousand planes to bomb Berlin.

They’ll all be paid for and I chipped in.

That certainly makes me feel okay.

Ten thousand more and that ain’t hay.

We must pay for this war somehow,

Uncle Sam was worried but he isn’t now.

I paid my income tax today.

Third chorus: I paid my income tax today.

I never cared what Congress spent.

But now I’ll watch over ev’ry cent.

Examine ev’ry bill they pay,

They’ll have to let me have my say.

I wrote the Treasury to go slow

Careful, Mr. Henry Junior, that’s my dough,

I paid my income tax today.”