A Million Little Pieces Of My Mind

That '50s Album

Duck and Cover

By: Paul S Cilwa Posted: 11/12/2026 Page Views: 28
Hashtags: #Music #1950s
The 1950s school drill, set to music. Under your desk, everybody!
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (318 words)
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Perry Como turned relaxation into a career, and nothing about his cardigans suggested an emergency. In 1951, meanwhile, American schoolchildren were being taught by a cartoon turtle named Bert to duck under their desks and cover their heads when the bomb came! This song wasn't performed by Como. But it could have been, if he'd had today's perspective! This version is by Perry Coma.

Duck and Cover

By Paul S Cilwa · Performed by Perry Coma

Lyrics

Duck and cover, duck and cover
Duck and cover, duck and cover

The teacher had us duck beneath our desks
She told us not to cry
A wooden desk against the bomb
That's when I knew grownups could lie

Duck and cover, duck and cover,
Survive Armageddon with your lover.
What's left of the world you'll rediscover,
Save a little sunshine for a rainy day.

We dug a fallout shelter in the yard
My treehouse left behind
Dad told us we might live in there
That's when I knew he'd lost his mind

The man on television wore a smile
And said the coast was clear
My parents held each other's hands
That's when I knew they shared my fear

Duck and cover, duck and cover,
Survive Armageddon with your lover.
What's left of the world you'll rediscover,
Save a little sunshine for a rainy day.

They couldn't keep us safe, or keep themselves
They only kept us still
We never trusted them again
I'm not so sure we ever will

Today my grandkids hide beneath their desks
The drill has been revised
We grownups still can't keep them safe
And no one is truly surprised

Duck and cover, duck and cover,
Survive Armageddon with your lover.
What's left of the world you'll rediscover,
Save a little fallout for a rainy day.

Duck and cover, duck and cover
Duck and cover, duck and cover