"Biplane" Lyrics: Maureen S. O'Brien, February 20-27, 1998 Music: ttto "Sailplane", Barry Childs-Helton (freely) Insp: 'Sarah' the Stearman, "Full Engagement", JAG. This song is dedicated to my grandfather, John S. O'Brien, Sr., who went down to Ocala and taught Army Air Corps guys how to fly their Stearmans. I miss him. She's the naval trainer version -- Same kind taught my gramps to fly -- Then he got shot down by a Zero. The Stearman's just as grounded here as I. And if I weren't nightblind, I'd love twilight, And if my leg weren't hurting, I could climb Over all these Pennsylvania mountains... God, I wish somehow I could go back in time. So I lay out all the loose parts -- Some aren't even hers, I guess. Paint's bright underneath the old dust -- Gold wings, like they just took off my chest. And if I'd took the chance to see the flight doc -- I pause a moment wiping off the grime -- But I'll take my chance to fix the Stearman. Maybe she can take me back in time. BRIDGE: Smell the oil and the old wood in the sunlight As I rebuild the Stearman on my back. As my life reassembles with her engine, The bitterness gets cleaned out of the cracks. Stearman's great for aerobatics. Gold wings ease over in a roll. Blue skies, sunlight and the mountains -- And the only clouds, a few left in my soul. But if it's not too broken, I can mend it -- The missing parts I'll make, buy or go find. If I can put me and her together, Maybe I can help put others back, in time. Back in time... Back in time.