The Ballad of Duke Cunningham
BILLINGSGATE JOURNAL (Dateline San Diego)
BULLETIN: Congressman "Duke" Cunningham has been vilified by those who never had the guts to do what he did; he put his ass on the line for his country each time he flew over Vietnam. He made some major personal mistakes that he is paying for today. But no one is perfect, not even Dr. BILLINGSGATE, who thought the Dukester should be commemorated by this ballad:
THE BALLAD OF DUKE CUNNINGHAM
Duke
Duke
(Chorus)
Call him a cheatin Congressman
He won't answer anymore
Not the F-4 Phantom hero
Not the sailor who went to war
Duke and his backseater cruised the skies of Vietnam
They dodged those Commie SAMs and MiGs
They sent five goomers down
And when the war was over
And when Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high
Was the Phantom Ace, Duke Cunningham
Call him a cheatin Congressman
He won't answer anymore
Not the F-4 Phantom hero
Not the sailor who went to war
Duke returned a hero
Celebrated throughout the land
He was wined and dined and honored, everybody shook his hand
But he was just an old Phantom pilot
No plane, no stick, no command
At home nobody cared what Duke did
Except the Democrats
Call him a cheatin Congressman
He won't answer anymore
Not the F-4 Phantom pilot
Not the sailor who went to war
Then the Duke started cheatin hard
His yacht was oft his home
They'd let him get some cash
Like you'd throw a dog a bone
He was convicted one mornin
Alone in the land he fought to save
Two hookers in a sunken spa
Became a grave for Cunningham
Call him a cheatin Congressman
He won't answer anymore
Not the F-4 Phantom hero
Not the sailor who went to war
Yeah, call him a cheatin Congressman
But the sky is just as blue
And his ghost is flying thirsty
In the Phantom Duke once flew