A recent letter writer offered up the anthem “96 Tears” by ? & the Mysterians in an effort to humble-gloat about Trump’s winning the election, to which I can only say (and I mean this sincerely) – Thank you!

“96 Tears” is the perfect anthem for people who see through Trump’s endless stream of lies and his deranged ramblings, such as his extended (no pun intended) recounting of his knowledge of Arnold Palmer’s genitalia at a closing political rally in Pennsylvania. (How inspirational! How very … presidential!)

I say “96 Tears” is the perfect anthem for non-Trumpers because I expect the author didn’t read the lyrics very closely, as the song is actually about a jilted party (Democrats, using their metaphor) looking forward to ending up back on top, just like Democrats (there’s that word again) are looking forward to restoring sanity to our damaged nation when the wheels come off the Trump administration (“And when the sun comes up, I’ll be on top. You’ll be right down there, looking up.”) as they must if he pursues just two of his promised policies, high tariffs and massive deportations.

And because irony is a harsh mistress, I’d wager the letter writer didn’t know that ? & the Mysterians was a Mexican-American band, formed by the children of migrant farmers (quelle surprise!) who settled in Michigan, just one of the many groups demonized by our dear leader-elect in his efforts to divide the nation. So if Trump had had his way back then, Rudy Martínez’s (aka Question Mark) parents would have been deported — and there never would have been a ? and the Mysterians, or their hit song, “96 Tears.”

But in the spirit of reciprocity, and considering Trump’s recent cabinet appointments, I’d like to offer what I believe is a more fitting serenade to Trump and the next four years of electile dysfunction facing the nation, a song that, at least in its title, captures the absurdity of this moment in our history — and of course, that would have to be a Stephen Sondheim ballad, covered by Judy Collins and peaking at No. 36 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1975, and then again in 1977 at No. 19, spending a total of 27 non-consecutive weeks on the chart. That song, of course, is the timeless classic — “Send in the Clowns.”

Gary Greene

Greenfield