Broken Man's Lament

[Chorus 1:] I was once a broken man I was once a broken fool Lost my wife and children To one basic broken rule Now I live my life in silence Though I'm not quite in a shell I drink and listen to that song "A Whiter Shade of Pale" Oh, a whiter shade of pale [Chorus 2A:] I was a good shade tree mechanic So I sent myself to school They smoothed out my rough edges In my hands they put new tools The instructor once he told me I could work on any line I could tune and make a diesel sing Just like Patsy Cline Oh, just like Patsy Cline [Verse 1:] Well, I met my wife to be Through my mother's best friend's son She'd been a barroom singer She was as good as anyone But I asked her to stop singing And the girl she did not flinch Next day she went and bought that man A brand new crescent wrench Oh, a brand new crescent wrench [Verse 2:] Well, we had three fine children As eight years went on by I learned to supervise a line My knuckles stayed bone dry But after supper I kept hearing her By the kitchen radio Singing sweet but desperate harmony A little bit too low Oh, a little bit too low [Verse 3:] She left three months later I'd just come home for lunch The note said easy come hard go But still love you much She said I don't know if I'll be back Or if you'll want me if I come But if and when that happens, dear You better let my sweet dream run Oh, let my sweet dream run [Chorus 2B:] I was a good shade tree mechanic So I sent myself to school They smoothed out my rough edges In my hands they put new tools The instructor once he told me I could work on any line But now my diesels aren't the only thing That sing like Patsy Cline Oh, just like Patsy Cline [Chorus]