Time was when an American about to go abroad would be warned by his friends or the guidebooks not to drink the water. But times have changed, and now a foreigner coming to this country might be offered the following advice:

If you visit American city,

You will find it very prett

Just two things of which you must beware

Don’t drink the water and don’t breathe the air!

Pollution, pollution!

They got smog and sewage and mud.

Turn on your tap

And get hot and cold running crud!

• Tom Lehrer