TCHEPONE
(Chuck Rosenberg / Robin Thomas / Toby Hughes)

Toby Hughes - 1968


I was hanging 'round Ops,
......just spending my time
not on the schedule,
......not earning a dime
When a colonel steps up
...... and he says I suppose
you fly a fighter by the cut
......of your clothes.
He figures me right,
......I'm, a good one I say

Do you happen to have me
...... a target today?
He says Yes I do, a real easy one.
......No sweat my boy,
......it's an old time milk run

I gets all excited
......and ask where it's at.
He gives me a wink
......and a tip of his hat
	
Two-fifty miles away from home drome,
......a sweet little hamlet that's known as
...... Tchepone

REFRAIN 	  	
Oh, you'll sure love Tchepone 

I get on my G-suit
......and strap on my gun.
Helmet and gloves,
......out the door on the run
Fire up my Phantom
......and take to the air.
Two's tucked in tight
......and we haven't a care. 	  	
In forty five minutes
......we're over the town.
From twenty eight thousand
......we're screaming on down. 
Arm up the switches
......and dial in the mils.
Rack up the wings,
......and roll in for the kill.

I feel a bit sorry
......for folks down below.
Of destruction that's coming
......they surely don't know.

The thought passes quickly,
......We know a war's on.
On down we scream
......toward peaceful Tchepone.

Unsuspecting, peaceful Tchepone
Release altitude
......and the pipper's not right.
I'll press just a little,
......and lay 'em in tight

I pickle those beauties
......at two point five grand,
I'm starting my pull
......when it all hits the fan
  	
A black puff in front
......and then two off the right,
Six or eight more,
......and I suck it up tight. 
There's small arms and tracer
......and heavy ack ack.
It's scattered to broken,
......with all kinds of flack. 	  	

I jink hard to left
......and head out for the blue.
My wingman says
......Lead, they're shooting at you!

No Bull, I cry as I point it for home.
Still comes the fire
......from the town of Tchepone.

Dirty, deadly Tchepone

I make it back home
......with six holes in my bird.
With the colonel that sent me
......I'd sure like a word
He's nowhere around
......though I look near and far.
He's gone back to Seventh
......to help run the war.
I've been round this country
......for many a day.
I've seen all the things
......that they're throwing my way.

I know that there's places
...... I don't like to go,
down in the Delta
......and in Tally Ho.
	  	
But I'll bet all my flight pay
......the jock ain't been born
Who can keep all his cool
......when he's over Tchepone.

Oh, don't go to Tchepone