Lyrks
Lyrks
Sign In
Cover Art

Be Prepared Lyrics by Tom Lehrer

Songs & More Songs

1953

SPOKEN LIVE INTRODUCTION ON "REVISITED":
You know, of all the songs I have ever sung, that is the one
I've had the most requests not to. I have time for one more here. This one is a little song dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America. (applause) We seem to have a convention here tonight. The Boy Scouts of America, those noble little bastions of democracy, and the American Legion of tomorrow. Their motto is--I would like to state at this time that I am not now and have never been... a member of the Boy Scouts of America--their motto is, as you know, "Be Prepared," and that is the name of this song

SUNG:
Be prepared! That's the Boy Scouts' marching song
Be prepared! As through life you march along
Be prepared to hold your liquor pretty well
Don't write naughty words on walls if you can't spell

Be prepared! To hide that pack of cigarettes
Don't make book if you cannot cover bets
Keep those reefers hidden where you're sure
That they will not be found
And be careful not to smoke them
When the scoutmaster's around
For he only will insist that it be shared
Be prepared!

Be prepared! That's the Boy Scouts' solemn creed
Be prepared! And be clean in word and deed
Don't solicit for your sister, that's not nice
Unless you get a good percentage of her price

Be prepared! And be careful not to do
Your good deeds when there's no one watching you
If you're looking for adventure of a
New and different kind
And you come across a Girl Scout who is
Similarly inclined
Don't be nervous, don't be flustered, don't be scared
Be prepared!
Credits
Tom Lehrer

Tom Lehrer

About “Be Prepared” by Tom Lehrer

Read the complete lyrics to "Be Prepared" by Tom Lehrer from the album "Songs & More Songs" in 1953. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Be Prepared" is performed by Tom Lehrer. from the album "Songs & More Songs" in 1953 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Be Prepared", explore more songs by Tom Lehrer using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Tom Lehrer · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Be Prepared" is credited to Tom Lehrer. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Be Prepared" appears on "Songs & More Songs" in 1953.

Visit the Tom Lehrer artist page at /artist/tom-lehrer for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

Fight Fiercely, Harvard!
Bright College Days (Live)
A Christmas Carol (Live)
Bright College Days
Clementine
A Christmas Carol
Alma
Clementine (Live)
Lyrks
Lyrks

Your gateway to the world of music lyrics.

Product

Features

Company

About

Artists

Trending

Legal

Privacy

Terms

Copyright

Support

Contact

Features

Charts

© 2026 Lyrks. All rights reserved.