The Last to Know

The Last to Know

The newlyweds came to the Capitol by train
Franklin found a companion for his shy, awkward wife
Lucy was pretty as Eleanor was plain
She knew all the right people in Washington life

She bought Eleanor’s clothes, made over her hair
Chose emerald stones to highlight her ears
Soon Lucy and Franklin began their affair
An affair that would last for 29 years

Eleanor, Eleanor
America cheers wherever you go
First in our hearts, First Lady of the land
You were the last to know
You were the last to know

Two friends sat by the fire and sewed
Socks for our boys off fighting the war
When Eleanor dozed, Lucy ran through the snow
To mail her love notes to FDR

The Cabinet, the press corps, the White House team
None of them told what most of them knew
They kept his dark secret, they proved their esteem
For the President, and the First Lady, too

Eleanor, Eleanor
Crusading for rights on the radio
First in our hearts, First Lady of the land
You were the last to know
You were the last to know

At Yalta, three leaders divided the world
The one in the wheelchair was pining for home
No, not for his wife, he loved another girl
“Operator, get me Lucy Mercer on the phone”

When Eleanor heard Franklin might die
She rushed down to Warm Springs from Washington
Only to learn, when her night train arrived
That Franklin had died in Lucy’s arms

Eleanor, Eleanor
Where does love come from? Where does love go?
First in our hearts, First Lady of the land
You were the last to know

Eleanor, Eleanor
Smile for the country, on with the show
First in our hearts, First Lady of the land
You were the last to know