The Airplane Song Words and music by Suzette Haden Elgin © 1985(Very freely, blues) C(E) I want to explain about the airplane; It's not like they told you at all-- F(A) Now the airplane can fly, but the reason why C(E) Is that people don't expect it to fall G7(B7) F(A) The pilot's at the controls; he thinks it's his skill; C(E) But the airplane only flies because F(A) C(E) The passengers believe that it will! Now I never fly, and I'll tell you why I do all my travelin' on the ground. . . . Or water will do, 'cause I can swim too, But I am no good at flyin' around! If I was on board the plane, we all would be killed. . . Because the airplanes only fly because The passengers believe that they will. . . . It's my duty at best to protect all the rest, And I take it seriously; If I was on board the planes, they would fall like rain, And think what a mess that would be! The pilot's at the controls . . . she thinks it's her skill . . . But the airplanes only fly because The passengers believe that they will! So if you're like me, the place you should be Is anywhere else but a plane! Let the flyer beware, I'm a menace in the air, I should travel by Greyhound or train! And when you fly from now on, just think of the thrill-- Knowin' the airplanes only fly because The passengers believe that they will! I want to explain about the airplane . . . It's not like they told you at all; The airplane can fly, but the reason why Is that people don't expect it to fall. The pilot's at the controls . . . he thinks it's his skill . . . But the airplanes only fly because The passengers believe that they will!