Slim and mustached br Jerry sang his heart out br In bib overalls at his lathe – br The Mario Lanza of Kent-Moore Tools. br br Ribbons of curled metal gathered at his feet br As he cut hard steel into usable parts. br He glanced at the prints, br Reset the turret to take a second pass br And belted out another chorus. br br Jerry retro-dreamed of New York, br Of lessons, certificates, Juilliard br And arias finished with outstretched arms – br Visions derailed but unforgotten. br br Global madness sent him instead to France. br With a pack and an M1 in place of scores br Jerry helped set Paris free br Yet never set foot on its stages. br br Kent-Moore paid him well br And masked by din of colliding metal br Jerry sang and sang and sang all day br For rivet guns and turret lathes. br His voice would melt your heart.