Polishing Shoes

Lyrics

[STU, spoken] November 17th Sitting in the Quonset hut before lights out My squad is doing chores now They hate me [CZECHOWSKI] Polishin' shoes Polishin' shoes Goddamn army says it's important [STU, spoken] Charles Czechowski is a guy from Brooklyn Nice to everyone… else [CZECHOWSKI] I miss the girl who'd shine my shoes [STU, spoken] There's a Jewish fella Never met one of those before Looks normal enough Name's Cohen [COHEN] I got plans to kill some Nazis I've learned some German "Du bist dead now" [STU, spoken] Hasn't said a word to me No one does Well, one guy [TENNESSEE] Heya pansy Ya wanna polish this? [STU, spoken] Just sit quiet, look normal He won't attack you in front of everyone I hate him [TENNESSEE, spoken] Clumsy idiot [STU, spoken] Okay, uh there's - let's see - a tall guy from Boston who's already best friends with the short guy from Italy So close, so quick. Like they got assigned [PROFESSOR] Polishing shoes, polishing shoes! [ROTELLI] Sempre lo stesso, sempre cosi [PROFESSOR] He thinks Japs don't care about scuff marks [STU, spoken] Both eat candy all the time And both sound like they're speaking foreign languages [PROFESSOR] No, how you say, it's "cah-m'l corn" [ROTELLI] Caramel corn [PROFESSOR] No, no. Cah-m'l corn [ROTELLI] I got to say it perfect American, okay buddy? [PROFESSOR, spoken] Hey Mitch, Sarge says you're the best G.I. Joe here [MITCH, spoken] What's it to 'ya? [PROFESSOR, spoken] Your twelve is supposed to fit into slot thirteen, but it only makes sense if piece A is next to piece eleven [MITCH, spoken] Well I'd show you my rifle, but then I'd have to marry you Everybody ready for inspection tomorrow? [CZECHOWSKI] Making the bed! [PROFESSOR] Scrubbing the damn Quonset [COHEN] Ironing shirts [TENNESSEE] All the chickenshit [ALL] Don'ts and do Like polishing shoes [STU, spoken] Then there's everybody's pal, Mitch Adams Wants all the fellas to like him. Somehow they do Swear he's looking at me sometimes, I don't know why I wish he'd leave me alone [MITCH, spoken] Hey there, need some help? [STU, spoken] No, I'm-I'm fine Nothing is the matter. Don't worry about me [MITCH, spoken] Well, while you're scribbling you're ignoring the fact that your shoes are a damned disaster, pardon my French And you're supposed to be polishing in your shorts! You're getting speckle all over your trousers [STU, spoken] Oh crap! Sarge said he'd make all of Charlie Company do latrines if I messed up again! [COHEN, spoken] Take your trousers off! [CZECHOWSKI, spoken] Ah, he's scared he'll get a woody! [PROFESSOR, spoken] Yeah! He reminds me of a Southie I knew growin' up who was a little, ah, light in the loafers [TENNESSEE, spoken] Ah! Light loafers! That could be his nickname [MITCH] Hey! We're gonna be nice to the kid He just needs to relax And focus Polishin' shoes 'Fraid the Army says it's important Pretend it's a dame you're sweet on, kid Don't rush her A shoe may not seem precious But it is You gotta let a gal know how you feel, kid Stroke her, rub her, caress her Pay attention to the tongue And the bottoms of her heels Bet she likes the way that feels [CZECHOWSKI, spoken] I miss Ethel [MITCH] Gently, sweetly, eh looks good Bet you already knew what to do She's a lucky shoe [TENNESSEE, spoken] Hey Mitch, why you helpin' Light Loafers? [ROTELLI, spoken] Ey Mitch, look at-a my shoe? [STU] Polishing shoes You polished my shoes Why are you looking out for me Making me blush? Why are you the only one who isn't mean? Why do I feel sad, and excited, and everything in between? I think that you I think that you might be The most beautiful man I've ever seen