The Acme Special

What is this, appearing thus                      
My friend, an airplane omnibus
Designed to captivate and charm
Rather than to rouse alarm
Among the ’Hoi polio’.

So why did old ‘Tatts’ quail                        
Young Billy Sharpe so loudly wail
When only asked if they might
Take her on a new test flight

If history serves us right
They tried to fly the prototype
So told, the grieving wives             
They barely got out with their lives

(Instrumental break)

Now it’s rebuilt like Fort Knox                        
And look! a shiny new ‘black box’      
So, what could possibly go wrong
On such a lovely day

Without a chance to argue more             
Poor Billy drew the shortest straw
As he lined into the breeze
He tried to quell the knocking knees

Those on the ground could already tell       
This would not be ending well                      
So you too, can probably guess
There came a frantic S.O.S.

(Instrumental break)

Was it because of the ‘moral mores’
Acme Aircraft closed doors?
What meant to be a glorious feat
Strewn wreckage in the street

(instrumental interlude)

Brave men who risk their lives                    
And commit their airplanes to the skies          
From Acme’s history, share a leaf
Or your days of glory may be brief               

(one line instrumental)
What more can I say             
I wish you all good day.

Rodd Sherwin
to a composition by
Jeremy Williams