The Ballad of Danny Fine
Not too long ago, back about 1929
Was conceived a boy, name of Danny Fine
Born on a Thursday, 24th of October
A day the stock market turned stone-cold sober
When the crash was over, five days later
The Fine family fortune had totally cratered
They'd lost all their wealth; Mr. Fine lost his job
Mrs. Fine had a breakdown; she wept and sobbed
Little Danny grew up in so horribly destitute
His only clothing for weeks was his birthday suit
His mother's milk dried up all-too-quickly
Poor Danny became anemic and sickly...
He struggled at home; he struggled at school
He was undernourished; life was so cruel
At age 15, he ran away from home
Determined to turn things around, all alone
He joined the Armed Forces, lied about his age
Helped liberate Dachau and Auschwitz, turning a page
Came to believe in himself in those heady days
Danny had learned, "Where there's a will, there's a way."
You may well guess Danny's now rich and/or famous
And sure he's succeeded and is no ignoramus
He's a regular guy with a wife and four kids
Who just can't move past something he long ago did --
After leaving home, he did not return again
A decision that's haunted him ever since then
For no matter the good deeds he's done for others
Danny Fine did not honor his father or mother
So the lucky among you, whose parents are still living
Honor them every moment; keep on giving and giving
Because once they have both breathed their very last
It has all been recorded; you can't change the past
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