The iron lung stands still
On Smithsonian's hill
No more children gasping air
No more summers filled with fear
When pools and parks lay dead
We still face other viral foes, but not this ancient dread

Raise your droplets high
Two drops that testify
To Sabin, Salk who led the way
And millions vaccinated, they
Built immunity round
If nothing else was ever fixed, they drove this terror down

Yet headlines seldom show
How close we are to go
They speak of variants unknown
Of vaccine trust overthrown
And myths that carry on
New fears may rise to take its place, but this one's nearly gone

Some still resist the shot
Though history forgot
When parents lived in summer's fear
Of paralysis drawn near
To steal their children's breath
But nation after nation chose to spare them from this death

The iron lung stands still
On Smithsonian's hill
No more children gasping air
No more summers filled with fear
When pools and parks lay dead
We still face other viral foes, but not this ancient dread
Oh no!
We still face other viral foes, but not this ancient dread!