The Mechanic's Story

I'm proud of what I do, I couldn't love it more
With Army Air Corps Maintenance, I help to win the war
My heart swells as my bombers go engage the enemy
But now that one just fell apart, all fingers point at me

        For I'm the man who walked the wing, inspecting every weld
        And tightening those bolts right there that, dammit, should have held
        I still can't puzzle out just what I did that wasn't right
        But who's that small, green figure at the corner of my sight?

I haven't slept in days, the problem's getting worse
The generals and pilots both use my name as a curse
The prop that flew off on its own was bad beyond belief
But now I've found a fuel tank that's been filled with creamed chipped beef

        And I'm the man who's on the spot, I'm facing certain doom
        They won't accept excuses, planes don't just "fall down, go boom!"
        And now I hear that droll and nasal voice I've learned to dread
        It means I'll see that midget with the helmet on his head

I might as well give up, I can't escape my fate
Hey, maybe if I tell the truth, I'll get a Section Eight
I'm sure I've lost my sanity, my eyes are playing tricks
I swear a plane just took off with a rabbit at the stick

        Now I'm the man who's in the brig, the court martial's today
        But surely, since I'm innocent, it won't be me who'll pay
        I know they'll treat me fairly, and . . . oh, wait, what does it mean
        When I walk into the courtroom, and my lawyer's short and green?

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