Crackerjack Songtext
von MarTinman

Like any other day, Ben Franklin School
Doing whatever 5th graders do
In came trouble and everybody knew
The Franklin bully broke every rule
Teachers couldn′t tell him what to do
He got held back a grade or two
A kid born behind the eight ball
Had run‑ins with the law
Even did time in Juvenile Hall
Was only looking to brawl
Smoked Pall Mall
It all happened so fast
Said to me, "I'm gonna kick your ass
Today it′s gonna be your last."


Watch yourself, here comes Zack
Moving like a freight train down the track
Nick Nack Paddy Whack, give the dog a bone
The way he rolls, he's in a league of his own
He's like a G.I. Joe, a master of attack
What do you call a kid who can mack like that?
You call that kid a Crackerjack!

Staring at the clock, nearly time to go
This is what it must feel like on death row
Not long now till the bell rings
Thinking in my head, "Don′t go down without a swing"
"Go out with all guns blazing
The Franklin bully was gonna give me a hazing"
Bell rang out like a starting gun
And every kid in school came out to run
As they formed a circle around us, I thought, I′m done
The Franklin bully cracked his knuckles and smiled wide
Said, "There's no‑one to save you, there′s nowhere to hide"
Everyone looking as I died inside

Watch yourself, here comes Zack
Moving like a freight train down the track
Nick Nack Paddy Whack, give the dog a bone
The way he rolls, he's in a league of his own
He′s like a G.I. Joe, a master of attack
What do you call a kid who can mack like that?
You call that kid a Crackerjack!


Oh, Oh, SpaghettiOs, Zack showed up ready to go
Like Chef Boyardee, he stood right in front of me
The Franklin bully was shocked and surprised
When Zack said, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
Before he could reply, Manny stepped up alongside
We stood our ground, Franklin bully sighed
He couldn′t back down, had to save pride
Manny said, "We better move, step aside
This is Zack's show, and it's about to go worldwide."
The move shifted left
Outcome now was anybody′s guess
Thirty seconds of fury, the punches flew
Zack stood his ground like Rocky One and Two
The bully fought hard and landed a few
But Zack fired back and landed some too
When the dust settled, Zack was still standing. Who knew?
Both took a beating, both black and blue

Watch yourself, here comes Zack
Moving like a freight train down the track
Nick Nack Paddy Whack, give the dog a bone
The way he rolls, he′s in a league of his own
He's like a G.I. Joe, a master of attack
What do you call a kid who can mack like that?
You call that kid a Crackerjack!
He loyal to the end, no question no doubt
When things get rough he don′t fade out
He's true to his word, he don′t scream and shout
He can take a punch and he can dish it out
You better not cry, you better not pout
He brings it like Santa—if you naughty he gonna find out
I can still hear, voice calm and clear, fire in his eyes
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

The bully said nothing at all
Looking up at what he saw

Zack stood bruised, covered in dirt
He took on the bully and made him hurt
After what he done by sheer effort
Was to complain, "Man, he ripped my shirt."
I said, "Zack, thanks, I owe you."
"No, you don′t.'cause in my view
That's what friends do."

Here he comes, here comes Zack
Coming at you like a freight train down the track
Nick Nack Paddy Whack, Giving you a smack
If you his friend then he′s got your back
What do you call a kid who does right like that?
You call that kid a Crackerjack!

He loyal to the end, no question no doubt
When things get rough he don′t fade out
He's true to his word, he don′t scream and shout
He can take a punch and he can dish it out
I can still hear, voice calm and clear, fire in his eyes
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"